A farm dam is one of your farm’s most vital assets. It serves as a buffer between unpredictable rainfall and the demands of a working farm, allowing easy access to water even in extremely dry seasons.
Farm dams also reduce reliance on municipal water supplies and groundwater, ensuring a reliable water source for irrigating crops and providing fresh drinking water for livestock.
There are several ways to construct a farm dam, including unlined earth dams, concrete dams and lined dams, each offering different benefits depending on your farm’s needs, soil conditions and budget.
HDPE Geomembrane is the global benchmark for farm dam linings because of its durability, chemical resistance and cost efficiency.
When it comes to choosing a lining for your farm dam, Gundle GeoSynthetics is a market leader in supplying and installing HDPE Geomembranes, with decades of experience and more than 20 million m² of HDPE installed across Africa.
Why choose HDPE Geomembranes for your farm dam?
Unlined farm dams can lose a significant percentage of water due to soil infiltration and subsurface seepage. HDPE Geomembranes have near-zero permeability and create a physical barrier that retains water and reduces water losses.
Because farm dams are generally installed in open areas where they are easily accessible, they are exposed to harsh sunlight, temperature fluctuations and direct weather. HDPE liners contain carbon black and thermal stabilisers that help protect against UV damage, cracking and harsh weather conditions.
Other lining materials can degrade due to being exposed to fertilisers, agrochemicals, animal waste runoff, or acidic or alkaline soils. HDPE liners offer chemical resistance, withstanding exposure to many acids, salts and solvents, while also resisting microbial degradation. This means that the geomembrane prevents soil contamination from affecting stored water and prevents stored liquid from contaminating the soil.
Farmlands can contain rocky soil. Thanks to HDPE’s high tensile strength and tear resistance it is more difficult to puncture and it can also withstand tough soil conditions and ground movement.
While unlined or clay-lined dams require frequent maintenance, cleaning and water replacement, an HDPE lining reduces maintenance costs and water loss, ensuring a high return on investment over its lifespan.
How can Gundle GeoSynthetics help you?
Gundle GeoSynthetics brings specialised expertise, high manufacturing standards and rigorous site installation to farm dams.
Gundle operates under ISO 9001:2015 certification and adheres to SANS 10409, SANS 1526 and Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI GM13/GM17) standards. This ensures that every roll of geomembrane installed meets the precise thickness, density, strength and crack resistance required for long-term farm dam use.
The leak protection of your farm dam depends on the quality of the geomembrane seams. Gundle’s certified welding technicians use dual-track hot-wedge and extrusion welding techniques to create strong, secure and leakproof seams.
So the next time you are thinking of installing a farm dam, speak to the Gundle GeoSynthetics team or visit the company website at www.gundlegeo.co.za
