Leak Location Surveys for

Geomembrane Liners
2007 WSWRA Annual Conference
Casper, Wyoming, August 29, 2007

Glenn T. Darilek, Principal Engineer

Leak Location Services, Inc
16124 University Oak
San Antonio, Texas 78228
llsi.com
 History
A time-tested technology
• 1981 - Development started (EPA)
• 1985 - First commercial water survey
• 1985 - First commercial soil survey
• 1991 - First monitoring system
• 1994 - First water puddle survey

More than 20 Years of

Successful Field Operations
 Analysis of CQA Measures
• Previous Emphasis on Destructive
Testing of Seams for Ultimate Strength

• Geomembrane Seam Tensile Strength

Must Be Sufficient for Installation, but
Is Not a Functional Requirement After
the Liner is Installed and Backfilled

• The Function of a Geomembrane is to

Prevent Liquid Flow into the
Environment, Not to Provide Strength
Destructive Testing
 Analysis of CQA Measures
• Seams Essentially Never Fail in Service

• Tens of Thousands of Holes Located in

Geomembranes (Electrical Method)

• Landfills with CQA had 4.2% of

Leachate Leaking Through the
Geomembrane (Tedder)
 Analysis of CQA Measures
• 73% of Leaks Caused by
Construction Damage (Nosko)

• Construction Damage While

Emplacing Earth Materials Is the
Major Problem
Analysis of CQA Measures

Which is better?
To cut holes in your
geomembrane to test
or
To test your geomembrane
for holes and cuts!
Principles of Leak Location
 ASTM D6747-02
Standard Guide for Selection of Techniques
for Electrical Detection of Potential
Leak Paths in Geomembrane
This standard guide is intended to assist
individuals or groups in assessing
different options available for locating
leaks in installed geomembranes through
the use of electrical methods.
Order Guide Document from www.ASTM.org
 Implementations
• Soil Covered – ASTM D-7007
• Water Covered – ASTM D-7007
• Water Puddle – ASTM D-7002
• Conductive Liner – ASTM D-7240
• Grid System
 Leak Location with Water
Covering the Geomembrane
Landfill Applications

„ Leachate Lagoons
„ Sumps
„ Flooded Areas
 Leak Location with Water
Covering the Geomembrane
Implementations
• Hand-held probe while wading

• Towed probe for deep water

• Long probe for side slopes

• Plumb bob probe for vertical walls

Water-Covered Geomembrane
 Leak Location with Water
Covering the Geomembrane
 Leak Location with Water
Covering the Geomembrane

Leak at
Weld
 Leak Location with Water
Covering the Geomembrane
Advantages
• Most sensitive method for locating
smallest leaks
• Performed under hydrostatic load
• Locates tortuous leak paths in
seams and patches
• Can be used for in-service
impoundments
 Leak Location with Water
Covering the Geomembrane
Limitation

• Geomembrane must be covered

with water
 Water Puddle Method
Landfill Applications

„ Secondary Geomembranes
„ Primary Geomembranes before Soil
„ Geocomposites in Arid Environment
Water Puddle Method
Water Puddle Method
 Water Puddle Method
Advantages
• Does not require flooding the
geomembrane with water

• Can be done as construction

progresses

• Fast
 Water Puddle Method
Limitations

• Not as effective for patches

• Wrinkles – Survey at night for HDPE

• Not effective with bridging

• Must have an underlying conductive

media
 Grid System
Landfill Applications

„ In Lieu of Secondary Geomembrane

„ Alternative to Monitoring Wells
„ Leachate Lagoons
„ Post-Closure Monitoring
„ Landfill Caps
Grid Systems
Grid System Wiring
Grid System Data Results
 Grid System

Advantages
• Only method capable of long term
monitoring of liner system (leaks
under waste)

• Replacement for secondary

geomembrane/geonet/leak detection
sump/
 Grid System

Limitation
• Requires pre-installed electrode grid
 Leak Location with a
Soil-Covered Geomembrane

Landfill Applications

„ Primary Geomembrane
„ Secondary Geomembrane
„ Landfill Caps
 Leak Location with a
Soil-Covered Geomembrane
 Data Collection with Soil
Covering the Geomembrane
 Leaks Located with Soil
Covering the Geomembrane
Bulldozer Tracks
 Construction Damage

7-Foot Rip
Construction Damage
 Leak Location with a
Soil-Covered Geomembrane
Results of Leak Surveys in 1999
 Leak Location with a
Soil-Covered Geomembrane
Advantages

• Only method capable of detecting

construction damage under soil cover

• Used as a final test of geomembrane

 Leak Location with a
Soil-Covered Geomembrane
Limitations

• Some limitations for use with synthetic

leak detection zones

• Cover soil must have some moisture

 Analysis of CQA Measures

Test Type % of Area Tested

• Destructive 0.001
• Vacuum 0.1
• Air Pressure 1
• Leak Location 100
Analysis of CQA Measures
 Analysis of CQA Measures
„ Cost of a Landfill $12.74 / ft2

„ Cost of Landfill CQA $2.00 / ft2

Duffy (2005)

„ Cost for Leak Location $0.06 / ft2

 Conclusions
• Construction Damage is a Much Greater
Problem for Liner Performance than
Seam Failures

• Improves CQA by Greatly Reducing

Destructive Seam Testing
 Conclusions
• Test the function of a geomembrane -
which is to prevent leakage

• Regulators and engineers are

reassessing CQA requirements

• Leak location surveys are six times

more cost effective for finding
problems than conventional CQA
States Adopting Leak Location
„ New Jersey
„ Washington
„ Wisconsin
„ California (de facto)
„ Texas (highly recommended)
„ New York (final draft)
„ Florida (pending)
„ North Carolina (recommendation)
„ Overseas
 Title 35 Wyoming Statutes
35-11-514.1. (a) No construction shall
commence of, nor shall any wastes be
accepted . . . unless the facility has been
approved by resolution of the board of
county commissioners . . . .
The board of county commissioners may
authorize a proposed facility upon
considering that the facility:

(iii) Employs the best available technology to

protect public health, safety and the
environment . .
 Chapter 15 Wyoming Waste
Management Rules and Regs
Section 10
Minimum Standards of Operation

(a)(viii) Reasonable precautions shall be

taken to prevent leachate from
the solid waste from entering the
surface or ground water.

(Type I, II, III)

 Conclusions

„ If we must take reasonable

precautions to prevent
leachate from entering the
surface or ground water,

„ What is more reasonable than

testing the geomembrane for
leaks?
Questions and Answers
llsi.com

Leak Location Services, Inc.

16124 University Oak
San Antonio, Texas 78249

(210) 408-1241
fax (210) 408-1242

results@llsi.com