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Hydrodemolition is one of the most eco-friendly forms of demolition, replacing unpredictable explosives and difficult to control machinery with robotic, high-pressure water jets. Hydrodemolition has become the environmentally-friendly demolition method it is today largely thanks to the Siltbuster: a compact and easy to transport unit which lowers the pH of waste water so that it can be safely returned into the environment. But how does the Siltbuster achieve this and how is it used on projects?

How does the Siltbuster work?

During a hydrodemolition project, the water used becomes contaminated with dust and debris and reacts with the free lime particles in the concrete, raising its pH from a neutral 7 to an alkaline 11. This highly alkaline waste water has the potential to cause a considerable amount of damage to the ecosystem: damaging vegetation and threatening the lives of aquatic life. Known as the ‘silent polluter’, waste water may appear clean despite its high pH.

At Hydroblast, we are dedicated to protecting the environment. As such, we have invested in the Siltbuster HD: a unit specially designed to cater to hydrodemolition waste.

The Siltbuster HD effectively decontaminates waste water in the following way:

  • Waste water mixed with a flocculent (if required) is poured into the inlet pipe.
  • Pieces of sediment and debris are caught in the geotextile dewatering bags while the water passes through into the main chamber.
  • When the digital pH monitor detects a fluid with a high pH, it immediately begins to pump Carbon Dioxide (CO2) through ceramic diffusers into the chamber. The stream of CO2 bubbles produced help to reduce the pH of the water. CO2 is used as the reagent because it is both easy and safe to store and offers a high level of control.
  • Now solid free and neutralised, the water is then discharged into an outlet weir.

Contact Hydroblast today for more information about the services we offer and how we take our responsibility to the environment seriously.