ASTM D7703-22

Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Lance Method

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Geomembranes are used as barriers to prevent liquids from leaking from landfills, ponds, and other containments. For this purpose, it is desirable that the geomembrane have as little leakage as practical.  
4.2 The liquids may contain contaminants that, if released, can cause damage to the environment. Leaking liquids can erode the subgrade, causing further damage. Leakage can result in product loss or otherwise prevent the installation from performing its intended containment purpose.  
4.3 Geomembranes are often assembled in the field, either by unrolling and welding panels of the geomembrane material together in the field, unfolding flexible geomembranes in the field, or a combination of both.  
4.4 Geomembrane leaks can be caused by poor quality of the subgrade, poor quality of the material placed on the geomembrane, accidents, poor workmanship, manufacturing defects, and carelessness.  
4.5 Electrical leak location methods are an effective and proven quality assurance measure to detect and locate leaks. They do not verify material or seam integrity.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is a performance-based standard for an electrical method for locating leaks in exposed geomembranes. For clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.6).  
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps, canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other electrically insulating materials. This practice is best applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations have been made during the construction of the facility.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2022
• ICS: 91.100.50 - Binders. Sealing materials
• Technical Committee: D35 - Geosynthetics
• Drafting Committee: D35.10 - Geomembranes

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D7703 − 22
Standard Practice for
Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using
1
the Water Lance Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7703; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D6747 Guide for Selection ofTechniques for Electrical Leak
Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
1.1 This practice is a performance-based standard for an
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
electrical method for locating leaks in exposed geomembranes.
Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
For clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes,
D7953 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed
punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar
Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.6).
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in
3. Terminology
basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill
3.1 Definitions:
caps, canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable
3.1.1 For general definitions used in this practice, refer to
for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene,
Terminology D4439.
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated
polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other electri-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
cally insulating materials. This practice is best applicable for
3.2.1 artificial leak, n—an electrical simulation of a leak in
locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations
a geomembrane.
have been made during the construction of the facility.
3.2.2 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a speciality
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
geomembrane manufactured using coextrusion technology fea-
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
turing an insulating layer in intimate contact with a conductive
standard.
layer.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.3 current, n—the flow of electricity or the flow of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
electric charge.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.4 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
electrical current or electrical potential to locate leaks in a
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
geomembrane.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.2.5 functionality testing, n—for the purposes of this
practice, functionality testing is a demonstration of the ability
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- to detect an artificial or actual leak using the proposed
equipment settings and survey procedures.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.6 leak, n—for the purposes of this practice, a leak is any
unintended opening, perforation, breach, slit, tear, puncture,
2. Referenced Documents
crack, or seam breach. Significant amounts of liquids or solids
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
may or may not flow through a leak. Scratches, gouges, dents,
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
or other aberrations that do not completely penetrate the
geomembrane are not considered to be leaks. Type of leaks
1
detected during surveys include, but are not limited to: burns,
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosyn-
thetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
circular holes, linear cuts, seam defects, tears, punctures, and
Current edition approved July 1, 2022. Published July 2022. Originally approved
material defects.
in 2011. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D7703 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/
D7703-22.
3.2.7 poor contact condition, n—for the purposes of this
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
practice, a poor contact condition means that a leak is not in
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
intimate contact with the conductive layer above or underneath
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the geomembrane to be tested. This occurs on a wrinkle or
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr H
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D7703 − 16 D7703 − 22
Standard Practice for
Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using
1
the Water Lance Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7703; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice is a performance-based standard for an electrical method for locating leaks in exposed geomembranes. For
clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar breaches in
an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.53.2.6).
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill caps,
canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other electrically insulating materials. This
practice is best applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations have been made during the construction
of the facility.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
D6747 Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical Leak Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
D7002 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2016July 1, 2022. Published January 2016July 2022. Originally approved in 2011. Last previous edition approved in 20152016 as
D7703D7703 – 16.-15. DOI: 10.1520/D7703-16.10.1520/D7703-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D7703 − 22
D7953 Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For general definitions used in this practice, refer to Terminology D4439.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 artificial leak, n—an electrical simulation of a leak in a geomembrane.
3.2.2 conductive-backed geomembrane, n—a speciality geomembrane manufactured using coextrusion technology featuring an
insulating layer in intimate contact with a conductive layer.
3.2.3 current, n—the flow of electricity or the flow of electric charge.
3.2.4 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses electrical current or electrical potential to locate leaks in a geomembrane.
3.2.5 functionality testing, n—for the purposes of this practice, functionality testing is a demonstration of the ability to detect an
artificial or actual leak using the proposed equipment settings and survey procedures.
3.2.6 leak, n—for the purposes of this practice, a leak is any unintended opening, perforation, breach, slit, tear, puncture, crack,
or seam breach. Significant amounts of liquids or solids may or may not flow through a leak. Scratches, gouges, dents, or other
aberrations that do not completely penetrate the geomembrane are not considered to be leaks. Type of leaks detected during surveys
include, but are not limited t
...