Historically, geomembrane installations are designed as containment systems that must conform to strict environmental guidelines as set out by the EPA and local government bodies. Similarly, they must follow a design philosophy that meets and exceeds the requirements of the principal to ensure serviceability into the future. Whether counteracting the devastating effects of environmental contamination or ensuring that water supply is facilitated without significant loss, the growing need for geomembrane installations in countless applications is clear. With an ever increasing need for resources, appropriately designed and installed containment systems for various purposes are required to be compliant with design parameters and meet service demand. However, the requirements of geomembrane installations are becoming increasingly stringent due to the extreme costs associated with systemic failure. Therefore, the primary objective for the designer is to achieve the best installation whilst minimising issues that may occur and hence the associated liability (Menoff et al, 1990).
