Intelligent membrane revolution in water industry

Dubbed the 'intelligent membrane', Hylam IQ is a patented system that detects and pinpoints leaks.

A revolutionary waterproofing system could save the water industry millions of pounds.

Dubbed the 'intelligent membrane', Hylam IQ is a patented system that detects and pinpoints leaks using a sophisticated lamination of Flexible Polypropylene Alloys and an electrically conductive Polypropylene geotextile.

Potentially, it is set to save the water industry millions of pounds by providing an effective alternative to traditional waterproofing methods and by reducing construction costs through the use of pre-cast concrete roof systems for new service reservoirs and contact tanks.

It also offers an effective means of repairing existing tanks with leaking roofs.

Cambridgeshire-based company DRC Polymers has developed Hylam IQ over the past three years.

Ken Bray, Managing Director, said: "This system has several clear benefits.

Unlike liquid waterproofing, Hylam IQ requires very little surface preparation and can be applied directly to concrete substrates - vertically and horizontally - and in any weather conditions.

"By detecting leaks electronically, Hylam IQ eradicates the need for manual service checks and the costly disruption they create.

"Apart from these benefits, we expect Hylam IQ to have significantly cheaper 'whole life' costs than the current liquid waterproofing systems available.

Given the fact that there are thousands of services reservoirs and damns in the UK, the potential cost savings to the water industry are phenomenal." DRC Polymers has just completed its first project using Hylam IQ at a newly constructed service reservoir at Demings Moss, above Shap Village in Cumbria (see Notes to Editor).

Owned by United Utilities, the 9.0 mega litre twin compartment service reservoir is 426 metres above sea level and is one of the highest and most exposed installations in the UK.

Bray explains: "Modern high specification construction methods mean that waterproofing wouldn't normally be required on a new-build such as this.

However, this reservoir was particularly demanding as it was designed to be environmentally friendly by blending in with the natural landscape, which meant covering it in half a metre of natural peat.

"As peat is highly acidic, this presented a problem with corrosion, so the concrete structure had to be protected.

"Liquid waterproofing was out of the question because of the extreme weather conditions, and standard loose laid membrane wasn't considered to have enough long-term integrity.

United Utilities recognized that Hylam IQ was the ideal solution." MWH were technical advisers to United Utilities on the project, while specialist contractor Brookes Construction undertook the installation.

Ian Armitage, Project Manager at MWH for the scheme, added: "We have been impressed with Hylam IQ.

The system was quality tested throughout installation, backfilling and ballasting, and proved to be very efficient.

"Because the system can be interrogated, we will be able to tackle any problems quickly and efficiently, with minimum disruption and no risk of contaminating the water supply".

Hylam IQ incorporates a grid of sensors that continuously monitor the membrane.

Data can be plotted on an electronic map that pinpoints the location of leaks to within a four metre quadrant.

Repairs to the membrane are therefore easy to make, as only the affected area requires attention, reducing disruption, labour and material costs.

Bray is optimistic about the future: "We have only scratched the surface of possible applications.

Hylam IQ will bring dramatic efficiencies to other applications yet to be identified.".

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