APS Silt Clear®

Dual-Action Water Clarification and Soil Stabilization

Applied Polymer Systems products harness the power of environmentally friendly materials to solve numerous water quality, erosion, and sediment challenges. Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is a polymer flocculant that can be used for a wide variety of erosion, sediment, and stormwater management applications. APS products bind, stabilize, and/or remove commonly problematic particles like sediment (clays, silt), metals, and nutrients to prevent erosion, clear water, and improve BMP performance. APS products are made and packaged in the United States, are drinking water quality (NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Certified), have been extensively toxicity tested by third party laboratories in accordance with EPA standards, and are safe for both terrestrial and aquatic organisms and environments.

Product Overview

APS Silt Clear® is a high-efficiency flocculant blend using polyacrylamide (PAM) technology to rapidly treat stormwater runoff. It captures fine sediments, metals, and nutrients that conventional BMPs often miss. Whether used in construction, agriculture, or industrial settings, APS Silt Clear® improves water quality, meets NSF/ANSI Standard 60, and has passed EPA-based toxicity testing for use in sensitive environments.

Removes Fine Silt, Clays, Metals, and Nutrients

Enhances Traditional BMPs for Improved Water Quality

Suitable for Various Applications Including Construction Sites

Primary Applications

Water clarification in passive treatment applications
Remove turbidity sources such as silt, clay, metlas and nutrients
Use in construction, mining, and other land disturbing activities
Apply Silt Clear to rock checks, wattles, sediment retention barriers (SRBs), swales, erosion matting, and many more

Features and Benefits

Binds and removes suspended particles from water
Effectively clarifies passive and intermittent stormwater flows
Removes suspended sediment in sheet flow
Decreases soil Erosion on moderate slopes
Improves performance of existing BMPs
Helps meet discharge and compliance criteria
May be used with APS Floc Logs for supercharged clarification

Directions for Use

Silt Clear is applied dry via hand spreader, push spreader, mechanical disk, or hand sowing
Silt Clear is ideal for sheet flow areas, it is best to use in conjunction with mulch, matting, or other cover
If applied to channelized flow areas, it is best to use in conjunction with wattles, rock checks, or other devices to decrease flow velocity and increase mixing
Flor large treatment areas, Silt Clear may be applied via hydroseed or water truck. However APS 700 Series Silt Stop Powders may be better suited for soil stabilization and erosion control.

Application Rates

A little bit of Silt Clear goes a long way! Packaged in 2.5 gallon jugs and 50 pound bags.
Area based application rate: 0.5-1 cups of Silt Clear per 100 square feet
Flow based applications: 5lbs Silt Clear / 100,000 gallons of water
Repeat application every 8-12 rain events (every 2-8 weeks), or when turbidity begins to increase

Contact us to have your site’s soil and water matched with the correct APS product for free!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some quick answers to common questions about APS polymers, flocculants, and stormwater testing. For more details, visit our full FAQ page.

General Company and Approach

What does Applied Polymer Systems (APS) do?
APS develops and supports polymer-based solutions for erosion and sediment control during construction.

🔗 Learn more about APS
What makes APS different from other erosion control suppliers?
APS focuses on testing, technical support, and correct polymer selection rather than one-size-fits-all products.

🔗 APS technical support approach | Polymer performance testing
Who typically works with APS?
APS works with engineers, contractors, inspectors, and regulators involved in construction-phase stormwater compliance.

🔗 Industries served

Flocculants & Polymers

What are flocculants?
Flocculants help fine sediment particles bind together so they can settle and be captured within BMPs (Best Management Practices).

🔗 Learn more about flocculants
Why are flocculants used in construction stormwater management?
They address fine silts and clays that traditional sediment controls struggle to capture.

🔗 Fine sediment and turbidity control solutions
Do flocculants replace erosion and sediment controls?
No. Flocculants enhance the performance of BMPs, not replace them. They work best in combination with properly designed and maintained basins, ditches, and inlet protection.
What is APAM?
APAM stands for Anionic Polyacrylamide, a polymer flocculant commonly used in construction stormwater applications.

🔗 Anionic PAM overview
Is all APAM the same?
No. Molecular weight and charge density vary, affecting how the polymer interacts with different soils.

🔗 Polymer selection and matching

Why Anionic PAM Is Important

Why does the charge of a flocculant matter?
Polymer charge affects how it interacts with sediments and aquatic life.

🔗 Polymer chemistry and performance
Why is anionic PAM preferred for stormwater applications?
Anionic PAM carries a negative charge that does not readily bind to fish gills or aquatic organisms when used correctly.

🔗 Environmental considerations for polymer use
Why are cationic polymers not used in construction stormwater?
Cationic polymers carry a positive charge and can bind strongly to fish gills, making them unsafe for stormwater applications.

🔗 Proper polymer selection guidance
How does APAM reduce risk to aquatic life?
When properly tested and applied, APAM binds fine sediment particles together so they settle and can be captured within BMPs, reducing turbidity and minimizing interaction with aquatic organisms downstream.