How effective is water suppression for controlling silica dust?

When used properly, water suppression can be quite successful. Water can be applied immediately to the source of dust, such as during drilling or cutting, to help capture dust particles before they can escape into the atmosphere.
But how effectively it is used determines how effective it is. Dust can still escape due to poorly maintained equipment, low water flow, or improper spraying. Furthermore, constant spraying is frequently required because wet surfaces may still dry out quickly.

For optimal safety, water suppression should typically be used in conjunction with other controls, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV).