ASTM D7002-10

Standard Practice for Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle System

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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.  
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.  
Geomembranes are often assembled in the field, either by unrolling and welding panels of the geomembrane material together in the field, or unfolding flexible geomembranes in the field.  
Geomembrane leaks can be caused by poor quality of the subgrade, poor quality of the material placed on the geomembrane, accidents, poor workmanship, and carelessness.
Electrical leak location methods are an effective and proven quality assurance measure to locate previously undetected or missed leaks and check the integrity of a liner.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice, a performance-based standard for electrical methods, covers detecting 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 3.2.5).
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 may not be applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations have not 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2010
• ICS: 59.080.70 - Geotextiles
• Technical Committee: D35 - Geosynthetics
• Drafting Committee: D35.10 - Geomembranes

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D7002-03 - Standard Practice for Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle System
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Replaced By: ASTM D7002-15 - Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Puddle Method
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D6747-21 - Standard Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical Leak Location of Leaks in Geomembranes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D7909-21a - Standard Guide for Placement of Intentional Leaks During Electrical Leak Location Surveys of Geomembranes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D7953-20 - Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D7700-22 - Standard Guide for Selecting Test Methods for Geomembrane Seams
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D7703-22 - Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Lance Method
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D7002 − 10
StandardPractice for
Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water
1
Puddle System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7002; 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 3.1.1 For general definitions used in this practice, refer to
Terminology D4439.
1.1 This practice, a performance-based standard for electri-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
cal methods, covers detecting leaks in exposed geomembranes.
3.2.1 artificial leak, n—an electrical simulation of a leak in
For clarity, this practice uses the term “leak” to mean holes,
a geomembrane.
punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects, cracks, and similar
3.2.2 current, n—the flow of electricity or the flow of
breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.2.5).
electric charge.
1.2 This practice can be used for geomembranes installed in
3.2.3 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses
basins, ponds, tanks, ore and waste pads, landfill cells, landfill
electrical current or electrical potential to detect and locate
caps, canals, and other containment facilities. It is applicable
leaks.
for geomembranes made of materials such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonated
3.2.4 electrodes, n—the conductive plate that is placed in
polyethylene, bituminous geomembrane, and any other electri-
earth ground or in the material under the geomembrane or a
cally insulating materials. This practice may not be applicable
conductive structure, such as a copper manifold, that is placed
for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations
in the water puddle on the geomembrane.
have not been made during the construction of the facility.
3.2.5 leak, n—for the purposes of this document, a leak is
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as any unintended opening, perforation, breach, slit, tear,
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this puncture, crack, or seam breach. Significant amounts of liquids
standard. or solids may or may not flow through a leak. Scratches,
gouges, dents, or other aberrations that do not completely
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
penetrate the geomembrane are not considered to be leaks.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Leaks detected during surveys have been grouped into five
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
categories:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.5.1 burned through zones—voids created by melting
polymer during welding.
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.5.2 holes—round shaped voids with downward or up-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ward protruding rims.
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
3.2.5.3 linear cuts—linear voids with neat close edges.
D6747 Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical
3.2.5.4 seam defects—area of partial or total separation
Detection of Leaks in Geomembranes
between sheets.
3. Terminology 3.2.5.5 tears—linear or areal voids with irregular edge
borders.
3.1 Definitions:
3.2.6 leak detection sensitivity, n—the smallest leak that the
leak location equipment and survey methodology are capable
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosyn- of detecting under a given set of conditions. The leak detection
thetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
sensitivity specification is usually stated as a diameter of the
Current edition approved July 1, 2010. Published September 2010. Originally
smallest leak that can be reliably detected.
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D7002–03. DOI:
10.1520/D7002-10.
3.2.7 squeegee, n—for the purposes of this document, a
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
squeegee is a device used to contain and push water on top of
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
an exposed geomembrane. It may consist of a handle and a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. transverse piece at one end set with a strip of leather or rubber.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D7002 − 10
3.2.8 water puddle, n—a small pool of water placed on the 4.2.2 Direct current power supplies (usually a 12 or 24 volt
geomembrane to create a conduit for current to flow through battery) hav
...

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:D7002–03 Designation: D7002 – 10
Standard Practice for
Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water
1
Puddle System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7002; 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 standard is practice, a performance-based practicestandard for electrical methods f, covers detecting leaks in exposed
geomembranes. For clarity, this documentpractice uses the term “leak” to mean holes, punctures, tears, knife cuts, seam defects,
cracks, and similar breaches in an installed geomembrane (as defined in 3.1.53.2.5).
1.2This standard 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.
1.3
1.2 Thispracticecanbeusedforgeomembranesinstalledinbasins,ponds,tanks,oreandwastepads,landfillcells,landfillcaps,
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 may not be applicable for locating geomembrane leaks where the proper preparations have not 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4439
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
D6747
D6747 Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical Detection of Potential Leak Paths in Geomembranes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1
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.
3.1.2electrodes
3.2.2 current, n—the conductive plate that is placed in earth ground or in the material under the geomembrane or a conductive
structure, such as a copper manifold, that is placed in the water puddle on the geomembrane.
3.1.3—the flow of electricity or the flow of electric charge.
3.2.3 electrical leak location, n—a method which uses electrical current or electrical potential to detect and locate leaks.
3.1.4geomembrane
3.2.4 electrodes, n—an essentially impermeable membrane used with foundation, soil, rock, earth or any other geotechnical
engineering related material as an integral part of a man made project, structure, or system. —the conductive plate that is placed
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 Dec. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. DOI: 10.1520/D7002-03.
Current edition approved July 1, 2010. Published September 2010. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D7002–03. DOI:
10.1520/D7002-10.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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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D7002 – 10
in earth ground or in the material under the geomembrane or a conductive structure, such as a copper manifold, that is placed in
the water puddle on the geomembrane.
3.1.53.2.5 leak, n—for the purposes of this document, 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, gouge
...