What is a Turbidity Curtain?

A turbidity curtain is a non-permeable geotextile cloth curtain that floats in a water column, and has flotation at the top and anchoring at the bottom to keep it vertical in a water body. The non-permeability allows all turbid (dirty) waters to be retained within the curtain body.

Where to use a turbidity curtain?

A turbidity curtain should be placed along a shoreline, where works are required on the edge of the shore or slightly in the water course, or as a final line of sediment control for a project near water. A turbidity curtain should never be placed across a water course, but always parallel to flow.

What is a Silt Curtain?

A silt curtain is basically a floating silt fence. It has some permeability to it, and thus allows silt particles to pass through it. Not to be confused with a turbidity curtain, silt curtains can be used to trap all particles of sediment with the exception of silts while allowing some flow to be maintained in a water body.

Where to use a Silt Curtain?

It you were to be constructing a crossing with a culvert and clean washed rock, and you wanted to capture any of the reminant sand while crossing a low flowing channel, then a silt curtain could be used in this situation. For most projects a turbidity curtain placed parallel to your site, will be preferable to a silt curtain.