USES AND INSTALLATION OF HDPE LINER TO REDUCE SOIL EROSION AND PREVENT WATER LOSS

This thesis seeks to make an accurate account of research conducted on HDPE regarding slope and one soil stabilization process as well as the lining procedure. Through observations made on several ponds a 2:1 slope was determined to be the most effective at eliminating animal loss within a lined pond. The scrape marks left by self-extracting animals let to the determination that 40 mil HDPE was adequate for keeping wildlife from stepping through the liner. Included are all methods and tools needed to accurately accomplish the task of lining a pond or capture point, including welders of three different variations and the tools needed to cut and move HDPE lining material. For private construction, that is simply a best management practice that should be adhered to as it ensures positive results. Professional and government contracted work often has a regulatory requirement stating that all seams be tested to prove a good seal. During the lining process, environmental factors such as wind, climate and precipitation also play a big role due to their effect on the planning and implementation phases. Personnel safety is a major factor on any construction or job site, however HDPE and indeed geosynthetic liner installation in general presents its own unique risks and challenges. Also discussed are the different types of HDPE lining materials and their uses. During the initial stages of any lining project, surveying is perhaps the most critical early process undertaken. It is crucial that a well surveyed line be established so that a trench can be cut accurately, avoiding any low spots that would at best reduce the holding capacity and at worse create a spillway and erosion problem.