Treat Muddy Drilling Water by Using a Sediment Filter Bag as a BMP

Managing and treating the muddy drilling water and drill-cuttings during the air-rotary drilling of a water well can be a very challenging task, particularly when the drilling water and drill cuttings are going to flow right into a stream or flow into a storm drain pipe. A sediment filter bag is a very effective Best Management Practice (BMP) that treats the muddy drilling water and contains the drill cuttings. The bag is made of a non-woven geotextile fabric that contains the drill cuttings while and the air and treated water pass through the fabric.

This presentation will compare the effectiveness of using a sediment filter bag to other BMP’s such as straw bales, a silt fence, or silt sox. The do’s and don’ts will be shown using examples from actual drilling sites. Because all of the drill cuttings are contained in the bag, site cleanup is made easier.