Preventing Cutting and Coring Contamination
Preventing Cutting and Coring Contamination
While cutting concrete or masonry cutting, slurry is created that must not be allowed to enter the nearby water systems and storm run-offs. Slurry can potentially contain silica, sediments, hydrocarbons, and high pH water.
Some of the recommend methods of reducing the risk of contamination from cutting and coring include:
- Reduce the amount of water being used to cool the saw, blade, and surface
- Avoid cutting in rainy or wet weather.
- Contain slurry in your cutting area by using other standard erosion and sediment controls
- Cover or block catch basins to prevent slurry from entering
- Use an appropriately sized slurry vacuum to collect the slurry.
- Use high-end cutting tools that have a built-in slurry containment system.
Prior to cutting always check the rules in your area for contamination. Different provinces will have slightly different rules about contamination prevention, clean-up and disposal.
Our information above is mainly to provide you with the concept and is not to be used as a procedure. Health and Safety rules are always changing. Before you read this blog, information could have changed in your area. Before starting any project, please make sure to look-up the rules in your city or area.
What is a Slurry Vacuum?
A slurry Vac System is designed to pick up concrete or masonry wet run-off while cutting. The vacuums have an increased suction capacity that is powerful enough to lift the wet concrete and a container large enough to catch the duration of the slurry produced while making a cut. The container is typically a large, sealed drum that stands tall and has extra seals in place to keep slurry out of the motor area.
You might find that a concrete cutting project is not for you. If that is the case, and you still need the project done, our parent company CanWest Concrete Cutting and Coring can provide you with a free estimate on your next project. Visit their website for more information. CanWest Concrete Cutting and Coring is operating in Southern Alberta.
If you are in Vancouver, we find HSC Hindley Scanning & Coring as a reputable resource for our customers who decide they no longer want to complete the project on their own.
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