20 Pumps and Valves Africa - Q3 - 2016

Geomembranes are used to line all manner of ponds and dams to prevent leaching of harmful polutants

Ensuring The Integrity Of Geomembranes

eomembrane quality and installation specialist, Nadia Minnaar, managing director of NGQ Consult-ing, explains that ever-tightening requirements for the containment and handling of waste materials

requires careful management to avoid falling foul of envi-ronmental legislation and regulations. Not only are severe penalties in place to punish offenders, but may cause repu-tation damage that may prove to be costlier in the long run.

She says mitigation of these risks has led to companies in-volved in the specification, construction and management of containment areas taking extra precautions to ensure that their facilities are 100% compliant and regularly mon-itored to ensure that the ever-important linings remain fully functional at all times.

Specialist guidance“These companies are increasingly seeking independent professional assistance when constructing containment fa-cilities to ensure that the total construction process is car-ried out in accordance with design requirements within le-gal and regulatory requirements. Independent or third party quality assurance and quality control has now become part of the construction process and along with that comes the ability to detect any leakage of waste or clean water from these containment areas.

“The legal and regulatory requirements of South Africa re-garding the handling and containment of waste and water are very clear and the issues of mining rights, water usage,

water licencing, waste control, pollution prevention and health and safety has caused companies handling waste wa-ter, as well as design engineers and construction companies to ensure compliance and put guarantees in place for clients.

“This has given rise to a whole new breed of specialist con-sulting firms such as ours who are able to monitor, in real time, the daily installation and progress of all geomembrane materials on site through custom designed software pro-grams. These state-of-the-art cloud based quality assurance and control programmes address every aspect as set out in international standards, SANS 10409 and material manufac-turers installation guides,” says Nadia.

Quality countsIn addition, modern day consultants can act as an indepen-dent, third party Construction Quality Assurance profession-

Geomembrane specialist, Nadia Minnaar of NGQ Consulting

Companies involved in the handling of waste water must pay special attention to the correct containment of pollutants through suitable geomembranes that have been correctly

installed, maintained and monitored.

Independent or third party quality assurance and quality control has now become part of the construction process

Pumps and Valves Africa - Q3 - 2016 21

al on behalf of the company, its appointed engineer or the construction contractor or installer on site. They are also able to provide independent inspections for geomembrane installation on-site during receiving, throughout field instal-lation and during any remediation processes.

“Our QA/QC services are an essential element that helps to ensure a compliant project with the correct geomembrane installation methods in place. We are also able to verify geomembrane installation procedures as well as certifying the safety, purity and integrity of installed materials. We make sure that all project-specific requirements, CQA plan requirements, industry best practices and internal specifica-tions are met. We also ensure compliance with current na-tional and international standards as well as with legal and regulatory requirements.

“Third party consultants should also be technically quali-fied to determine lining-material compliance, lining-surface preparation, as well as ensuring installation methods are correct. Thereafter to undertake daily quality control testing and live monitoring of the installation process.

Leak detectionIn addition to consulting services the company is also able to undertake electrical liner integrity surveys and assessments, also known as leak-location surveys or electrical-leak detec-tion. These are post-installation quality control method for detecting leaks in installed geomembranes.

This type of service is imperative for the long-term protec-tion of groundwater and the maintenance of water resourc-es. These state-of-the-art electrical leak-detection survey techniques are increasingly being specified by environmen-tal authorities, as well as site owners to either forestall fu-ture liability or as proponents of responsible environmental stewardship

Nadia concludes that the services offered by NGQ Consult-ing is designed to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget, as well as ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements. “In this industry the only way to mitigate risk is through a comprehensive quality manage-ment system that is transparent and allows all the partici-pants involved in the project access to the platform.”

NGQ ConsultingNadia MinnaarTel: +27 79 875 5691Email: nadia@ngqconsult.comWeb: www.ngqconsult.com

We ensure compliance with current national and international standards as well as with legal and regulatory requirements

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