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WATERPROOFING FREE FLOW CANALS WITH FLEXIBLE SYNTHETIC COMPOSITE MEMBRANE SYSTEMS

Ageing of structures in free-flow canals decreases the efficiency in water transport and the safety of the structure, due mainly to water loss through joints and cracks, to increased hydraulic roughness of the surface, to growth of vegetation, to structure deterioration.
Rehabilitation to restore the canal to its original efficiency can be made by flexible PolyVinylChloride (PVC) liners, mechanically anchored to the existing surface and drained. The system can provide perfect watertightness bridging joints and even large fissures, and very low hydraulic roughness with subsequent documented increase in water flow from 50 to 90 %. The paper addresses main issues. drainage collection and discharge, choice of the liner, anchorage system, additional anchorage or ballast layers.