Willowstick Technologies LLC articles

Atkins used Willowstick to position diaphragm wall and stop leakage through 6.2km long embankment dam

With over 6km of embankment locating the exact leakage paths and hence minimising the required diaphragm wall length was made possible with the use of Willowstick. Willowstick brought confidence in the correct location of the diaphragm wall and major cost savings to the client.

Efficient investigation of extensive embankment

King George V rese

INTRODUCTION

Groundwater seepage can exacerbate environmental pollution through contaminant transport, pose a threat to dam safety and can also be associated with valuable mineral deposits.

Dam safety, environmental remedial works and mineral location normally involve comparatively expensive techniques, but, if the extent and location of groundwater seepage can be accurately predicted, then the amount of work, and thus costs, can be dramatically reduced.

Willowstick rapidly located leak at dam troubled for decades

After 18 years of unsuccessful remediation work costing tens of millions of dollars Willowstick identified the exact leakage pathway in less than a month. This enabled the client to carry out targeted remediation works at a fraction of the original cost.

The leakage path identified by Willowstick was significantly different than previously assumed by the client and its location was successfully confi

Willowstick significantly reduces grouting works at heavily reinforced concrete dam

A Willowstick survey of Shaver Lake dam successfully identified seepage paths underneath the copper faced dam. As a result the survey significantly reduced the amount of grouting required bringing large cost savings to the client.

Interference from reinforcement and copper sheeting was successfully avoided through survey alignment and post survey modelling. The project has subsequently se

Atkins used Willowstick to design targeted grouting and successfully stop leakage through earth embankment dam

Atkins was commissioned by Welsh Water to reduce leakage at earth dam nicknamed “the sieve”. Client admitted they would need to come up with a new name after Atkins successfully located and stopped all leakage pathways with a Willowstick assisted grouting programme.

Significant leakage through earth embankment

Shon Sheffre

Atkins use Willowstick to significantly reduce cost of remediation scheme at concrete dam

The cost of a proposed leakage remediation scheme at Wimbleball dam was dramatically reduced after Willowstick identified different leakage path than previously assumed.

Leaking grout “curtain” suspected

During construction a grout “curtain” was installed as a barrier to potential leakage beneath the 63m high concrete buttress dam.

This hydropower plant in Central America is a vital part of its country’s infrastructure, supplying 18% of the country’s power.

THE PROBLEM: HEADRACE TUNNEL LEAKAGE

Our client observed their 4km headrace tunnel had major leakage problems. In an attempt to better understand the problem, the client underwent several inspections which ultimately proved unsuccessful. Complicating matters even further was the fact that it cost the client about $1M

Willowstick characterizes seepage flow paths through through the dam

Background

An engineering company was set to build a new outlet structure for a reservoir. They had been monitoring the dam for seepage and wanted to gain a better understanding of where seepage was occurring. Of significant importance to the client was the desire to characterize any preferential seepage flow paths along the embankment’s full length. An accurate understanding of t

THE CHALLENGE

An earthfill dam, in Austria, had a planned underseepage, with several piezometers installed to understand the water flowing beneath the dam. The owner wanted to know if there were preferential seepage paths or if the seepage was evenly distributed in the foundation.

THE SOLUTION

In 2015, Willowstick completed an investigation at the dam, with several surveys covering the entire dam, and identified an unexpected preferent

This paper examines the application of a proven geophysical technology that is highly effective in assessing seepage flow conditions through, beneath and around earthen embankments. The technology works rapidly with minimal disruptions to dam operations—it requires no drilling or draining of the reservoir. It has become a competitive solution to many of the complex challenges faced with dam safety diagnostics and monitoring and the technology has consistently and repeatedly providing in