Oral communication at SEGH International Conference, Eldoret, Kenya

Partner : University of Strathclyde

Authors/presenting : Keith Torrance

Audience type : Technical

Audience : 81

Title of teh communication : Could emerging contaminants limit re use options for dredged river and canal sediments?

Abstract : Flood defences to mitigate climate change will require large volumes of aggregates for seawall construction and clean fill for levees and dikes. The beneficial reuse of dredged sediments from Europe's canals and waterways for these projects is a vital step in reducing waste and transitioning towards a sustainable future. However, the viability of using this readily-available material source can be compromised by the presence of both legacy and emerging contaminants particularly where canals and rivers traverse urban areas.  The potential health hazards from elevated levels of metals such as nickel, zinc, and lead are well documented, but those of emerging contaminants such as PFAS, microplastics, and 6PPP are poorly understood.Dredged sediment from inland waterways are usually characterised by total organic matter contents in excess of 10%, high moisture contents, and an unfavourable particle size distribution for infrastructure applications. From 2019 to 2021, pilot studies up to 15,000m3 in scope were undertaken on Scotland's canal network; at Laggan on the Caledonian Canal, at Bowling on the Forth & Clyde Canal and at Falkirk on the Union Canal to determine the viability of using dredged sediment for infrastructure projects. As part of the Interreg-funded SURICATES project, we have demonstrated through that passive conditioning methods can be successfully applied to enhance the geotechnical properties of dredged sediments, whilst remediating certain contaminants through phyto-conditioning. By recovering usable coarse fractions, concerns over emerging contaminants, which can preferentially accumulate in urban waterways, can be managed.

Link :

segh.net/past-conference-abstracts