Green infrastructure has quickly become one of the top trends in conscious construction. It does a fantastic job of addressing climate change challenges, and ensures reliable protection against flooding as well. Anyone working on a green infrastructure project can expect to come across at least one of two products critical to their work: geomembranes and geotextiles.
Each material serves a distinct purpose. Geomembranes, known for their durability and waterproof properties, are used as liners for landfills, ponds, canals, and other applications requiring robust containment solutions. In contrast, geotextiles are more porous in nature and are ideal for in-ground drainage, erosion control, filtration, and more.
Geomembranes and geotextiles are essential to many green infrastructure projects, helping to create a sustainable living environment by better-managing factors like stormwater and pollution. Here’s a closer look:
What Is Green Infrastructure?
Green infrastructure is designed to harness natural processes around a property to address common environmental problems. Unlike conventional systems, which rely heavily on engineered solutions, green infrastructure integrates soil, vegetation, and other natural elements with help from geomembranes and geotextiles to effectively filter water runoff and protect the surrounding streams, rivers, and lakes while creating a more temperate living space.
What Is A Geomembrane?
Geomembranes are usually either made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene. They have the ability to provide a reliable barrier against water, chemicals, and even gasses. They are often prefabricated into large panels, reducing the number of seams and potential points of failure during installation.
Related Article: How Anchor Trenches Secure Geomembrane Pond Liners
What Is A Geotextile?
Geotextiles are synthetic fabrics made from materials like polypropylene. Unlike geomembranes, geotextiles are designed to allow water to pass through while providing structural support and separation. These fabrics can come in woven, non-woven, or knitted variants, with each offering different levels of permeability and strength.
By providing a stable base and allowing water to flow through, geotextiles help prevent soil erosion, improve water flow, and maintain the integrity of the materials above them.
Related Article: What is the Difference Between a Geotextile and a Geomembrane Liner?
Common Uses For Geomembranes and Geotextiles
Both geomembranes and geotextiles play an important role in green infrastructure:
Geomembranes:
- Landfill Liners: Protect groundwater from contamination by preventing leakage.
- Pond Liners: Maintain water levels and prevent seeps in ponds and artificial lakes.
- Stormwater Systems: Direct water runoff towards drains while preventing debris entry.
Geotextiles:
- In-Ground Drainage: Facilitate water flow while preventing soil erosion.
- Erosion Control: Stabilize soil on slopes and other uneven surfaces.
- Filtration: Support and separate different soil layers while allowing water to pass through.
Recommended Geomembrane and Geotextile Products
Americover offers a range of high-quality geomembranes and geotextiles suitable for various green infrastructure applications:
- Custom Fabricated HDPE Geomembrane Liner: Specially formulated to perform in applications that will have extended exposure to outdoor conditions.
- Custom Fabricated Polypropylene Geomembrane Liner: UV stabilized polyester scrim reinforced film with carbon black and UV resistance for long-term water containment applications.
- Non-Woven Geotextile Fabrics: Geotextile fabric fibers that are either mechanically entangled with barbed needles or spun onto a collecting belt and bonded with heat to be used for filtration and separation or as an overlay.
- Enka® Geotextile Products: Backed by extensive testing and certifications, Enka® products provide civil engineers, builders, and manufacturers easy-to-install solutions for erosion control, drainage and moisture control, soil reinforcement, noise reduction, radon mitigation, and more.
Get Started On Your Green Infrastructure Project With Americover
As an Americover customer, you will receive the personalized support of a dedicated account manager to simplify the ordering process and ensure the best solution for every one of your projects.
Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to answer your questions and fulfill orders Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. For more information or a free sample, call us at 760-388-6294 or visit our Contact Us page.
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