1. ISSUE 3
WIA CELEBRATES 10
YEARS OF SMART
WATER AWARDS
SCIENTISTS FOR
A NIGHT: WIA
MEMBERS TOUR
AWQC
SCHNEIDER TACKLES
TELEMETRY
SOLUTIONS IN
WATER
DETECTION
SERVICES:
DETECTING
THE EDGE OF
TECHNOLOGY

2. 8 Irrigation & Use. Resource Management. Leadership. Planning & Delivery.
Being Fab - Leading
the way with
Geomembrane
As the nation’s leading supplier and
installer of complex geomembrane
containment solutions, Fabtech
Australia have expertise across a range
of applications and with 27 years of
experience in the industry, Fabtech
have a reputation for delivering critical
projects on time and on budget.
A recent example of Fabtech’s success is their
completion of the Wattle Park Reservoir Liner
and Cover Replacement. This project was
integral to Adelaide’s metropolitan water
supply, as well as to the broader success of the
North South Interconnection System Project,
which forms part of the eastern transfer
system providing SA Water with the capability
to interconnect the southern and northern
networks, ensuring security and versatility of
water transfer is maintained.
In 2011, with the potable water storage’s peak
operational period fast approaching, SA Water
contracted Fabtech Australia to carry out the
design, site remediation, construction, and
commissioning of the new liner and floating
cover for the 27,000m² potable water storage.
The storage was an irregular shape and
included floor structures and mixers which
presented design challenges to achieve a taut
cover surface when in service for effective on-
cover water and solids management.
A complex central plate design was used
with primary and secondary defined sump
features. To support the requirement and
minimise on site time, the design also
incorporated large area segments allowing
prefabrication of critical geometry and bulk
area segments. A number of liner and cover
geomembrane materials were considered for
this project. Fabtech selected an unreinforced,
high performance, geomembrane material
with high elongation performance and
flexibility with exceptional UV resistance and
Chlorine performance.
The site activities were undertaken during
the South Australian summer with daytime
temperatures inside the storage above 50
degrees celcius. This necessitated night
time working to ensure safe working and
weld integrity. As the storage was located
in a residential area specific strategies
were necessary to manage noise and light
pollution.
Following the removal of electrical fencing
and other redundant facilities, the existing
liner and cover was cut and rolled into 40
parcels weighing 3 tonne each, then elevated
out by crane. To ensure the new lining system
achieved the required design life, the concrete
basin was remediated where necessary
and a protective cushioned geotextile layer
installed.
The lining system was required to operate
with an Action Leak Rate based on the
technical paper, Leakage through liners
constructed with geomembrane, Giroud
and Bonaparte 1989, and verified with
regard to this performance by hydrostatic
testing. As repair of any liner defects would
be complicated by the need to empty the
storage and to work under the installed cover.
The completed lining system was validated
by electrically testing to ASTM 7003. This
process assisted in the lining system being
commissioned without the need for any
repairs. To facilitate cleaning and maintenance
during asset life, the cover design
incorporates capability of inflation in addition
to the inspection hatches and sampling ports.
Fabtech engineered an industry leading
design, featuring a unique active vent
system to avoid cover ballooning from air
entrapment, as well as an innovative mixing
system to enhance water consistency and
reduce required chlorine levels, and a cover
that functions at all water levels. These
Fabtech engineered outcomes not only
served as solutions to project challenges,
but have also provided the water industry
with working prototypes and installation
methodologies for use on future water
storages.
Fabtech Australia’s installation crew delivered
the liner and floating cover installation with
minimal disruption to the community and
environment, while achieving a project safety
accomplishment of nil lost time injuries.
The reservoir has been back in service since
February 2012, functioning as per the design
and client expectations.
For more information on Fabtech Australia
head to www.fabtech.com.au.
Who are Fabtech?
- The nation’s leading supplier and installer
of complex geomembrane containment
solutions with expertise in applications
ranging from; landfill containment, floating
covers, water storages, gas covers, tanks, and
electronic testing, to tailing storages and
heap leach pads.
- Delivering geomembrane supply, design
and installation projects for over 27 years.
- National client base of Blue Chip customers.
- Extensive track record in delivering complex
designs and multi-layer lining systems.
- Positioned to deliver critical containment
projects nationwide.
CASE STUDIES