Case Study #5: Electric Liner Leak (ELL) Survey
Using a similar methodology to ERI allows for a complete circuit to be made through water in the subsurface to allow for measure the effective integrity of HDPE liners for sediment ponds.
Electric Liner Leak Detection (also known as Electrical Leak Location or Liner Integrity Testing) is a proven geophysical method for identifying holes, tears, or defects in geomembrane liners. It is performed after installation or during operations to ensure containment integrity.
Cost Savings Include:
• Detect leaks before they become major failures, avoiding expensive cleanup and regulatory fines.
• Pinpoint leak locations for targeted, low-cost repairs.
• Prevents loss of valuable stored fluids (e.g., process water, leachate, wastewater).
• Reduces maintenance and remediation costs by pinpointing exact leak locations.
Applications Include:
• Landfill cells & caps
• Process ponds
• Heap leach pads
• Wastewater lagoons
• Secondary containment systems
Photo 1 (below): In this picture an example of a completed circuit used in ELL surveying can be seen using, a generator and two stainless steel electrodes allowing a circuit to pass through the liner, so it can be assessed for any anomalies.
Photo 2 (below): In this picture a data set we acquired using the above geophysical method. Using this method and plotting the data in surfer allows us to look for dipoles (an area where the polarity switches from positive to negative) indicative of potential leaks or defects in the liners.
