Geotextiles and Geomembranes for Rockfill Dams: An Application in Saudi Arabia

Paper on file with ASDSO.

Precipitation delivers about 120,000 Million Cubic Meters per year of fresh, clean water to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; about 99% of this is lost as runoff to desert or sea, or as evaporation. Water demand for 1985 has been estimated at 3600 Million Cubic Meters. most of which will be met by depleting nonrenewable groundwater or fossil-fuel resources. the need for accelerated programs to increase artificial recharge in the streams of Saudi Arabia has, therefore, been recognized. Within the Saudi Arabian context the feasibility is being studied of constructing a large number of simple rockfill embankments, reinforced with geotextiles against failure due to throughflow or overtopping; the added feature of installing an impermeable geomembrane permits flexibility in shifting the infiltration pattern from the downstream channel to the upstream reservoir. The paper reports on model-and prototype-experiences and evaluates the potential hydrologic impact of a large-scale recharge program.