Rehabilitation of Dams with Geomembrane System to Reduce Maintenance cost

This paper, based on application of impervious geomembrane on all types of hydraulic structures worldwide for more than 50 years, discusses on how geomembranes are exploited as an effective way to extend the service life of Dams and appurtenances and to reduce maintenance. Two typical cases of rehabilitation are taken up for discussion,Kadamparai, masonry dam in india, installed with the PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) geomembrane waterproofing system exposed on the upstream face of the dam could bring down the seepage from nearly 35000 litres per minute(l/m) to around 100 l/mUnderwater Rehabilitation of Turimiquire, 113 meter high, CFRD in Venezuela. An exposed PVC geomembrane was installed to restore imperviousness to the deteriorated facing leakages across the full dam face, reached 9800 litres per second(l/s). PVC geomembrane system installed in underwater could withstand large deformations and maintain imperviousness due to their elongation properties and durability. Because of this, they are increasingly being used worldwide for repair of all types of dams