Abstract:
The levees protecting the Danube in Germany an Austria have received a thin centerline cutoff wall installed by the vibrating beam method to form of a continuous cement bentonite grout membrane a few inches thick; this took place since the 60’ s and performance has been good to date. This technique, imported from Europe to the US has had a difficult start due to insufficient Quality Control measures and in-depth knowledge of the technology proper. A devastating report from the USACE in 1984 has been a major roadblock in the development of this technique in the public domain, in particular in levee work. More than a quarter century later, the opinion of the USACE has not changed, with no desire to change or interest of discovering what has changed since the early eighties. With the advents of new slurry-grout formulations, data acquisition equipment and interpretation softwares, the technique has been accepted by the private sector, in particular in environmental mitigation work where results need to be documented and insurance lawyers satisfied. The idea that such technique can produce a continuous cutoff wall of very low permeability is not in doubt anymore, the question is why a document written in 1984 represents a brick wall for a new generation of public servants. In an era of challenges to reduce the carbon footprint of everything we do, an economical solution to many water control problems that has a low carbon footprint should be given an open minded look to give it a place on the menu of alternative solutions available. German and Austrian workers have been trained to do the job right, we can do the same here.