What is the purpose behind that black fence around a construction site? To the average person driving by a construction site the black fence around the perimeter might mean it’s a trash barrier, a construction border, or a way to keep out trespassers. Yes, it could be all of those things. However, the black fence, commonly know as Silt Fence, actually is an environmental precaution. The fence is one type of erosion control that serves as a temporary sediment control device to preserve the clarity of nearby bodies of water.
When the silt fence is properly installed, placed and maintained, it can be quite effective. Educating and effectively communicating with installers, site managers, subcontractors, and the general public about its purpose can increase its usefulness.
Silt fence isn’t just a barrier to keep trespassers off of construction sites but can be a way to prevent sedimentation in to the waters we all enjoy. So when you are on a construction site be mindful of this black fence and understand it serves a purpose to help protect our storm drain systems and ultimately our common water bodies.
