Geochemical aspects to reusing dredged canal sediment

Britain's canal network was instrumental in the rapid explosion of the industrial revolution in the late 18th century, allowing efficient transportation of coal and iron to industrial centres and of products to market. The canal network began to diminish in importance with the advent of rail transportation in the mid-1800s, but still served commerce until the 1960s; the larger ship canals are still used. By the late 20th century many canals were abandoned, derelict (Figure 1), impacted by pollution, and were contributors to urban blight. However, thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts and conservationists, canals have since enjoyed a renaissance for leisure boating and, more recently, as a catalyst for urban regeneration via projects such as the Millennium Link in Scotland (Fleming 2000). This £78 million engineering project required the removal of thirty canal obstructions via new road bridges, locks, and the iconic Falkirk Wheel canal lift (Figure 2).