Dredging
Dredge originates from the precipitation of small particles from plant residues or dirt from the streets, from the sewerage system, from pollution upstream and bordering land. It consists of four different parts, dirt, sand, water and silt, in various proportions. For a long time people and companies discharged polluted material to waterways, causing polluted canals and rivers.
In earlier days the dredge would be spread over land or in deeper water but this is no longer allowed. The dredge has to be processed into a product, discharged at a garbage belt or stored in special depots. Costs of these measures are high and this is a reason that maintenance of soils in waterways is often postponed. Read more on sustainable dredging...
Recently, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management has opened a new depot for storage of polluted dredging slurry. This depot is close to the area where most of the silt is generated, in the eastern part of the Hollandsch Diep and it will store 10 million m3.