What is the Use of Geomembrane Sheets?

A geomembrane is a thin, continuous polymer sheet with very low permeability, used as a liner or barrier. Laid under a pond, landfill or process pond, it stops water, leachate or chemicals from seeping into the surrounding soil and groundwater.

Geomembranes line drinking water and irrigation storage to prevent leaks, and they are used with other geosynthetics (geotextiles, geonets, clay liners) to control fluid flow and provide containment in mining, sewage treatment and canal construction.

Applications

Geomembranes are used in mining, marine works, civil construction, water treatment and transportation. The main uses are below.

Mining Industry

In mining, geomembranes line evaporation ponds, heap leach pads and tailings impoundments. Heap leach pads are regulated because the leach solutions are toxic, so the lining system, typically an HDPE Geomembrane, is a critical component of these facilities.

Water Industry

HDPE geomembranes are used across drinking water and wastewater works, including sewage treatment. Lining canals, dams and reservoirs cuts water lost by seepage into the surrounding soil, and in potable water storage the liner also keeps soil and groundwater contaminants out of the stored water.

Marine Industry

In marine work, HDPE sheet is used on floating docks and jetty platforms supported by pontoons. The HDPE is wrapped around the pontoon’s flotation foam as a protective skin, which keeps water, UV and abrasion off the foam and extends its life.

Agriculture and Nurseries

Farmers use HDPE liners to line farm ponds and small dams because they are a low-cost, dependable way to hold water.
Nurseries use geomembranes for waterproofing beds and containing soil, and many now choose HDPE where they once used PVC or LDPE liners.

Installation

Installing a geomembrane liner is technical work. HDPE panels are joined on site by thermal welding, usually a dual-track hot-wedge welder for long seams and an extrusion welder for patches and details, and a qualified welder should run and test the seams. On side slopes the usual method of securing the liner is an anchor trench around the perimeter.

Geomembrane Durability

A geomembrane’s service life depends on how fast its polymer degrades. UV exposure, chemical attack, biological agents (animals, fungi) and repeated thermal expansion and contraction all shorten it. HDPE sheet made to GRI-GM13 carries 2–3% carbon black and an antioxidant package to slow UV and oxidative ageing, and covering an exposed liner with soil or water extends its life further.

Choosing the right type and thickness needs technical input. It usually depends on the depth of the containment and the geotechnical conditions of the site, such as how angular the subgrade is and how much settlement to expect.

Choosing a geomembrane

Cost, availability and suitability for the job all affect which geomembrane fits a project.

HDPE is the most common choice for ponds, canals, landfills and mining because of its chemical resistance, UV resistance and long service life at a moderate cost per square metre. LDPE and LLDPE are more flexible and suit uneven ground or applications where the liner must follow settlement.

Contact Ocean Geosynthetics to discuss the right geomembrane for your project.

Suppliers quote per sq m, per kg or per roll, and some buyers ask in sq ft. Our note on converting geomembrane cost per square foot shows how to put quotes on one basis before you compare them.

FAQs