Managing water runoff is a significant responsibility for construction companies. Construction projects can cause mass water turbidity that may cause environmental damage if left untreated. To address this issue, many companies turn to flocculants as the trusted choice for wastewater treatment. But why are flocculants preferred when there are many other water treatment solutions available?

Compared to other water treatment solutions, flocculants for construction runoff are faster, easier to use, and cheaper. They can be used without any setup in different site conditions. This wastewater treatment process is more environmentally friendly and complies with regulations in the US and Canada.

Flocculants are the best choice for handling turbid water because of their simplicity. Other options require additional setup or have unacceptable caveats, which we will explore now.

Why Do Construction Companies Need Water Treatment Systems?

Construction activities like excavation and grading disturb and relocate soil, and ice and introduce chemicals into the site. Excess soil, ice water and chemicals generate turbid water, carrying sediment and pollutants. This turbid water can reach and penetrate soil layers to access natural water sources and contaminate them. Construction companies must treat the turbidity of the water to preserve the environment, and thus comply with municipal environmental policies and regulations.

What are the methods of industrial wastewater treatment? Why should you avoid all 6?

Aside from flocculants, there are 6 more methods for treating water runoff. But they have severe setbacks that you should not settle for. Let’s take a quick look at these 6 options and why they are unacceptable:

1. Sedimentation Ponds: These ponds are used to slow down the water flow so that the heavy particles settle at the bottom. Unfortunately, these ponds take up large land areas, take too long to work, and require more filtration afterwards for optimal results.
2. Filtration Systems: In this method, water is passed through layers of filter media to remove the contaminants, and suspended solids. But it cannot handle high volumes and clogs up quickly. It needs frequent maintenance, which makes it unideal for managing construction water runoff.
3. Chemical Coagulants: Chemicals react with suspended particles to form larger clumps that settle out. But there’s always a risk of altering pH levels and introducing toxicity. Disposal of the ‘clumps’ also requires extra care.
4. Dewatering Bags: Runoff is pumped into large fabric bags that filter out sediment while allowing water to seep through. However, these bags have to be well made, with thin mesh to properly sort out fine particles. They also have a limited capacity. So, Using them without flocculants reduces their capability drastically.
5. Electrocoagulation: Uses an electrical charge to destabilize and remove contaminants from water. However, it’s a high-cost, energy-intensive, and complex operation that doesn’t go with sustainable construction practices.
6. Polymer-Enhanced Sedimentation: Uses environmentally friendly polymers to accelerate sediment settling in ponds or tanks. However, this process requires careful dosing and has regulatory issues.

As you can clearly see, other water treatment solutions either have issues with managing high volumes of turbid water, or they are expensive and slow. Some even change the water pH or add chemicals. However, flocculants are free of such issues.

Why Use Flocculant For Construction Runoff?

Flocculant is considered the best water treatment process because of these 7 reasons:

1. High Efficiency: Flocculants quickly bind fine particles, heavy metals, and pollutants, making them easier to remove. This is especially useful for treating muddy or sediment-heavy construction runoff.
2. Cost-Effective: Compared to other treatment methods, flocculants require less equipment and labour, reducing overall treatment costs.
3. Fast Acting: Flocculation works in seconds, speeding up sedimentation and filtration, which is crucial for keeping projects on schedule.
4. Regulatory Compliance: Many regions, including Greater Vancouver, have strict stormwater regulations. Flocculants help construction companies meet water quality standards before discharging runoff.
5. Versatility: Flocculants can be used in various site conditions, from stormwater runoff to dewatering trenches and excavations.
6. Minimal Infrastructure Required: Unlike large-scale filtration systems or sedimentation ponds, flocculants can be applied directly to runoff areas with minimal setup.
7. Improves Water Clarity: By removing fine particles, flocculants improve water transparency, making it safer for downstream ecosystems.

Flocculants are truly the best when it comes to managing construction runoff. But if you want your runoff to clear out in seconds, you need the top flocculant in the market. And Floc Systems’ TigerFloc flocculant is the perfect product for you.

Why Is TigerFloc The Best Flocculant For Construction Runoff?

Compared to other flocculants in the market, Floc Systems Inc.’s TigerFloc is faster, more effective, and more efficient. Other products take minutes to create flocs in turbid water and have to be pre-mixed. But TigerFloc can start clearing up turbid water in under a minute of being mixed in and continues to function even if more runoff comes through. For construction runoff, there’s no better choice.

Even the dewatering bags sold by Floc Systems are made with micro-pored, custom-made products. They are meant to be durable and at the same time balance both the water flow rate and filtration of the dirty water passing through them. Both products are perfect choices for the diverse and challenging site and weather conditions of the US and Canada and are environmentally friendly too.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us at 1 (877) 228-2124 or info@flocsystems.com. Don’t miss out on the advantage other contractors are using to get ahead.

Conclusion

Flocculants have proven to be the most efficient and reliable solution for managing construction runoff. Their cost-effectiveness, speed, and compliance with regulations make them the top choice across Canada and the U.S. Compared to other water treatment products, they require minimal setup while delivering superior results. So do not hesitate and opt for the best in the market to get the best results every time.