Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Breznik (1998, Page 131) reports that sealing of rocky slopes in karst areas, by shot-
creting and plugging of individual caves with concrete, has generally been successful in
preventing leakage. These methods may be applicable also for lava tubes, lava flows or
old mine workings.
Breznik (1998, Pages 126-130) describes how sediments covering the floor of the
Popovo “hanging” storage in Herzegovina were treated locally by blanketing with low
permeability soils, covered in parts by plastic sheeting. “Chimney” pipes were installed to
prevent disruption of the blanket by air expelled from cavities when the water table rose. The
treatment was successful at this site but similar treatments at four other sites were not.
As noted in Section 3.7.2.1, shotcreting, concreting and a geomembrane blanket have
been recommended for the Lar storage area adjacent to the dam. Riemer (2003) has
advised that these works have not been carried out.
Breznik (1998) notes that localized areas of sinkholes near the margins of some storage
areas have been isolated from the storages by construction of low embankment dams.
Chengjie and Shuyong (1981) describe the effectiveness of an 8 m high concrete
masonry dam which was used to isolate an area of sinkholes from the Baihua hydroelec-
tric storage in Southwest China.
