Expected performance benefits for various dewatering practices.
Link to this table

Dewatering Best Management Practices
Sedimentation/ Settling Only (Sediment Traps/ Basins)
Filtration Only (Silt Fence, Dewatering Bag, Geotextile, etc.)
Pretreatment + Chemical Flocculants + Settling/Filtration **
Water quantity
Flow attenuation
Secondary benefit
Little or no benefit
Little or no benefit
Runoff volume reduction
Secondary benefit
Little or no benefit
Little or no benefit
Water quality
Soil erosion
Little or no benefit
Little or no benefit
Little or no benefit
Sediment control
Primary benefit
Primary benefit
Primary benefit
Nutrient loading
Secondary benefit
Secondary benefit
Secondary benefit
Pollutant removal
Total suspended solids
Primary benefit
Primary benefit
Primary benefit
Total phosphorus
Secondary benefit
Secondary benefit
Secondary benefit
Heavy metals
Secondary benefit
Secondary benefit
Secondary benefit
Floatables
Primary benefit*
Little or no benefit
Secondary benefit
Oil and grease
Primary benefit*
Little or no benefit
Secondary benefit

*If skimmer is used, otherwise secondary design benefit.

    • Benefits depend on the pH and temperature of the water being treated.