1.1 These practices describe standard procedures for using electrical methods to locate leaks in geomembranes covered with liquid or earthen materials, which can be watered to cause leakage through the geomembrane. For clarity, these practices use the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.7).
1.2 These practices are intended to ensure that leak location surveys are performed to the highest technical capability of electrical methods, which should result in complete liquid containment (no leaks in geomembrane).
1.3 Not all sites will be easily amenable to this method, but some preparation can be performed in order to enable this method at nearly any site.
1.4 The geomembrane must be covered with water or as wet as practical. Earthen materials or sludge, or both, may also be present over the geomembrane. The main requirement is that a hydraulic gradient exist across the geomembrane so that if a hole or breach exists in the geomembrane, it will actively leak during the testing. If ideal testing conditions cannot be achieved, the method can still be performed, but any issues with site conditions are documented.
1.5 Leak location surveys can be used on geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, and other containment facilities. The procedures are applicable f
