Case Study: Enhancing Water Storage Efficiency with Ocean Non Wovens’ HDPE Liners in Champara, Bihar 

Ocean Non Wovens supplied 10,800 square metres of Ocean HDPE Liner-1500 micron to line a water storage pond in Champara, Bihar. The pond stores water for local agriculture and community use through the dry season, when supply in the area runs short.

Project overview

• Location: Champara, Bihar
• Product used: Ocean HDPE Liner-1500 micron (1.5 mm)
• Quantity: 10,800 sq m
• Application: Water storage pond lining

Water availability in Champara drops sharply in the dry months. An unlined pond loses much of its water into the ground, so the project needed a liner that would hold water reliably and last.

Why HDPE liners for water storage ponds

HDPE liners are widely used for ponds because they form a continuous, welded barrier against seepage:

• Durability: HDPE resists puncture, chemicals and UV (through its carbon black content), which suits exposed pond slopes.
• Conformability: the sheet follows the pond’s contours, and welded seams make it continuous.
• Water quality: HDPE is chemically inert and does not leach into stored water; for drinking water, specify a resin grade certified for potable contact.
• Cost: low maintenance over a long service life.

Why 1500 micron

Farm and community ponds are often lined with 500 to 1000 micron HDPE. A 1500 micron (1.5 mm) sheet gives a wider margin against puncture from stones in the subgrade, damage during cleaning and animal or vehicle traffic at the edges, and it is easier to weld reliably. Under GRI-GM13, a 1.5 mm smooth HDPE sheet has minimum puncture resistance of 480 N and tensile break strength of 40 kN/m.

Project execution

Site preparation

The pond area was cleared and the ground levelled to a smooth surface. Good preparation prevents puncture from below and is one of the main factors in liner life.

Liner installation

The liner was laid carefully to avoid wrinkles and folds that could stress the sheet:

• Placement: the liner was unrolled and positioned to cover the whole pond.
• Seaming: panels were joined by thermal fusion welding to form strong, leak-proof seams.
• Anchoring: liner edges were secured, typically in an anchor trench at the crest, so wind and water movement cannot displace the sheet.

Quality assurance

Checks ran throughout installation: seams were tested for strength, and the liner was inspected for punctures and tears. On HDPE ponds this normally means air-pressure testing of dual-track fusion seams and vacuum-box testing of patches and extrusion welds.

Benefits

Water retention

The liner sharply reduced seepage losses, so the pond holds a steady water level for irrigation and community use.

Lower running costs

With a durable liner needing little maintenance, the community in Champara has reliable storage without high ongoing costs.

Environmental benefit

Stopping seepage conserves water in an area where it is scarce, and the inert liner keeps stored water free from contamination by the surrounding soil.

Ocean’s support on this project

Ocean Non Wovens provided on-site support during installation so the liner was laid and welded correctly, and offers post-installation support and maintenance services so the liner continues to perform.

About Ocean Non Wovens

Ocean Non Wovens supplies HDPE liners, pond liners and other geosynthetics for agriculture, industry and community water projects. For more lined ponds and reservoirs, see the case studies or contact the team.