AquaBlok Proves Effective for Stopping Leaks in Cut-Off Wall Project at a Wastewater Treatment Plant

    TONTOGANY, OH, February 12, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- AquaBlok, Ltd., manufacturer of the bentonite-based sealing material, AquaBlok, is pleased to report the successful application of their product in a basin rehabilitation project in Columbus, OH. A range of additional geotechnical projects have also been performed across the United States and Canada.

AquaBlok is a composite particle typically consisting of crushed aggregate, polymer, and bentonite. The material swells when hydrated and coalesces to form a flexible, but cohesive, low-permeable seal. Hydraulic conductivity of 5X10-7 or higher can be achieved without mechanical compaction. Several municipalities, as well as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), have approved AquaBlok for applications, such as dam construction and rehabilitation, due to its superior ability to:

- Provide a low-permeable seal without mechanical compaction

- Remain pliable after hydration

- Provide reliable, targeted placement

In Tontogany, 32 tons of AquaBlok was used to cut off persistent seepage through an earthen berm adjacent to a waste water treatment pond. A trench, measuring at approximately 48' L x 10' D x 1.5' W, was excavated along the eastern berm of the pond, where the seepage was observed. Material was added to the trench without drawdown into the pond or interruption of service to the facility.

The project, including trench excavation and AquaBlok placement, was completely within six hours.

Since completion of the project, there have been no signs of water loss in the settling pond.

Many basins, canals, levees, and reservoirs suffer from a range of conditions that cause ongoing leaks. Such conditions include porous or permeable soils, compromised soil liners, faulty control structures (i.e. pipes, spillways, and dams), remnant field drainage tiles, and other natural or construction-related issues.

Once a leak is identified, few options exist to create an effective seal without first draining the water from the basin. The cost and disruption to life in the system is particularly significant in more mature waterways. Additionally, in holding or settling ponds, such as CCR basins, and similar settings, significant safety issues exist. Disruption of operations can also occur, if the basin needs to be drained or taken out of service for repair.

Recent successful applications of AquaBlok material also include use as an anti-seep collar around pipelines to limit erosion from the migration of water along bedding materials.

"What's perhaps most exciting about AquaBlok is its versatility in the field," says the company's Geotechnical Sales Manager Kevin VanTuyl. "As the installations and uses of the product have expanded, its attributes become more known to engineering and professionals in erosion control and construction industries. We are finding an increasing number of applications where time and cost-saving advantages over conventional practices and remedies have been proven."

AquaBlok is currently available in both 50lb paper bags and 2400lb flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) bags for larger applications.

Pricing for AquaBlok is comparable to bentonite alternatives. Specific pricing is available upon request and is dependent on the quantity purchased. Contact AquaBlok for more information.

AquaBlok, Ltd. provides a bentonite-based sealing material to address a wide range of geotechnical sealing and erosion control applications. Highly versatile, AquaBlok is used as anti-seep collars/trench dams, pond/basin construction and repair, cut-off walls and dam rehabilitation, synthetic liner repair, and more. AquaBlok uses a limestone aggregate core that is coated with the highest-quality powdered sodium bentonite clay. This approach improves over the use of raw granular or powder bentonite by eliminating the need to compact to achieve a seal, making it easier to place, simple to handle, gives it structural stability, makes it more erosion resistant and improves safety. Use as a blanket over leaking soils without blending, stop seepage around pipes and control structures without compaction, and so much more. AquaBlok can be applied through standing water or in the dry during construction. For more information, please visit http://www.aquablok.com.

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