What is the cost of dredging is the most frequently asked question by many water management associations. Now the engineering department from China Ocean Pump Co., Ltd. has answered this question.
When customers who come to inquire about products ask us to assist with their possibly upcoming dredging projects, the first question we are usually asked is, “How much will this cost?” This is usually followed by, “Just a I’m not going to let you stick to approximate numbers.” And then we often hear, “We have a board meeting tonight and I want to report on the dredging to move the project forward.”
There are hundreds of variables that determine the cost of dredging this lake. To begin the process of obtaining a rough viable price, three questions need to be answered:
How much medium (sand) can be dredged?
Where can you put the medium (sand) from the lake?
What is the vertical height from the horizontal plane to the point where the sand is deposited?
In order to determine the quantity, it is first necessary to carry out a hydrographic survey (bathography) before dredging. This type of survey will provide bathymetric information for the entire body of water. At the same time, sediment surveys can be carried out, providing soft sediment thickness information.
Hiring experienced water remediation engineers and dredger operators with proper insurance and certifications is worth the money at this stage. This will help protect the association in the event of a dispute. Hydrographic surveyors will be able to generalize soil characteristics and conduct seafloor profiling in a single site visit. Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision about how much data you need to get the most cost-effective advice for your dredging project.
After you have quantified how much sediment needs to be removed, the next step is to find a place to place the dredger. Most people underestimate the amount of space they need to place and hold the sediment flowing from the lake. The size of the area you need will depend on many factors, the first being the layout of the land. Typically for every two acres of lake dredged, with an average of three feet of sediment, you’ll need an acre of high ground to place material. This would result in an average elevation gain of 6 feet on land before merging. The closer the area is to the lake, the cheaper the dredging cost, all other things being equal.
The final question to answer is the media properties. In most lakes, what is dredged is often referred to as “silt”. This is usually a combination of silt, clay and organic matter. There is also sometimes sand at the end of the bay. The dredger needs to know this, as it is more expensive to pump the sand further, but it is easier to dewater; while the silt pump is easy, dewatering is expensive, especially if the size of the processing area is limited. Hard sand or hard clay bottoms are harder to cut and therefore more expensive. Rock is even more expensive, and often cost-prohibitive. If dredging vessels are expected to remove sediment that has filled the lake since it was originally built, there should be a clear distinction between virgin land that has never been excavated.
It’s best to work with someone with years of dredging experience to help guide you through the maze and advise on what’s needed, what’s not needed, and what options you have to pay for. In the end, you want someone you can trust and who has a long history and can provide you with references.
The cost of dredging a lake is not only the cost of the dredger, but also the hired manpower, material resources, and post-maintenance costs. Our engineering department can give you a detailed plan, you are welcome to contact us.
Tai’an OCEAN Pump Co. Ltd. (referred to as OCEAN Pump)specializes in the development, production and sales of sand pump machine, sand dredging machine, jet suction dredger, cutter suction dredger , sand pump, submersible slurry pump, heavy duty sand pump, etc. As the leading sand dredging equipment designer, manufacturer and exporter, OCEAN Pump has been dedicated in supplying sand dredging machines to worldwide customers for over 20 years. OCEAN Pump has won the praise and trust of customers with rich industry experience, professional technology and excellent service.
