Slurry Trench Containment Barriers

A bentonite slurry is pumped into a narrow trench, as it is being excavated through pervious deposits and keyed into an underlying aquaclude. The heavy slurry supports the walls of the trench, allowing excavation to proceed until the trench can be backfilled. After the trench is complete, it is backfilled with an engineered material, which has been designed to have the desired permeability characteristics and resistance to chemical degradation.