Comparison and development of ditch structures (bed pipe barriers) in reducing suspended solids concentration in waters flowing from peat mining sites

Ditch structures are used to reduce the transportation of eroded peat from peat mines during high runoff events. In this article, new types of control structures were compared with traditional ones. Two different experiments were performed under laboratory conditions. First, hydraulics were studied by determining the discharge at different water levels. Second, the effectiveness of the constructed barriers in reducing the transport of peat was measured. The results of the study show that attenuating the runoff peak by storing water in the ditch network is the most effective way of reducing the concentration of suspended solids of waters flowing from peat mining sites. The water intake location also has a small effect on the transport. The new type of control barrier retains the runoff peaks. Its outlet is situated close to the water surface where the concentration of suspended peat is less than at greater depths.