Potable Water Reservoir Lining, Supply & Installation – Rustenburg Municipality, South Africa — Case Study

Potable Water Reservoir Lining, Supply & Installation – Rustenburg Municipality, South Africa — 1,900 m²

Internal lining of a leaking concrete potable-water reservoir using 720 g/m² reinforced PVC over 400 g/m² protection geotextile. The reservoir held water on its first fill test, restoring community supply within days.

ScopeSupply & Install

Area Lined1,900 m²

ResourcesReservoir lining team

CQA StandardsPotable-contact material documentation and project PVC seam requirements

Completed2025

Case Study Brief

Rustenburg Municipality required a lining solution for a concrete potable-water reservoir affected by cracking and seepage. Geosynthetics Africa installed a reinforced PVC lining system inside the existing structure. The assembly used 720 g/m² reinforced PVC over 400 g/m² polypropylene protection geotextile. Potable-water contact suitability must be supported by the manufacturer’s approval and test documentation for the material supplied. Concrete surfaces were prepared and cracks sealed before placement of the protection layer and liner. Panels were cut, positioned and hot-air welded, with mechanical fixings and terminations supporting the vertical-wall details. Inlet and outlet interfaces required careful sealing around the existing geometry. The project recorded a successful first water test with no leakage observed, and community supply was restored within days. This commissioning result records performance at the time of the test; future inspection and maintenance remain part of reservoir operation.

The Installation Challenge

The existing reservoir had cracking and seepage, with vertical walls and inlet/outlet interfaces that required careful restraint and sealing. The 1,900 m² lining scope also had to support restoration of the community’s water supply.

The internal concrete surfaces were prepared before protection geotextile and reinforced PVC were installed. Hot-air welded panels, mechanical fixings and termination details formed the lining, followed by the reported successful first water test.

Installation Sequence

Prepare the existing concrete

Clean and prepare the internal surfaces and address cracks and rough areas before placing the lining assembly.

Install the protection layer

Position the 400 g/m² protection geotextile to cushion the reinforced PVC at the concrete interface.

Fit and weld the PVC lining

Cut and position the 720 g/m² reinforced PVC, complete hot-air welded seams and detail fixings, terminations and pipe interfaces.

Inspect and commission

Review seams and details, complete the water test and record the commissioning result and handover information.

Field Quality Assurance (QA/QC) Checklist

Quality checks recorded on this installation.

Material suitability: check the supplied PVC and potable-contact documentation against the project requirements.

Substrate and protection review: inspect concrete preparation and continuity of the protection geotextile.

PVC detail review: inspect hot-air welded seams, vertical restraint, terminations and pipe interfaces using the specified checks.

Commissioning record: document the water-test result, close out identified defects and retain the reservoir handover information.

Products Used in Project

Products supplied and installed on this project.

Geomembranes

PVC Potable Water Liner

Quantity: 1,900 m²

“In-house project comment: This reservoir rehabilitation combined material suitability, wall restraint and detailed sealing around the existing interfaces. The recorded successful first fill supported restoration of the water supply.

Ivan M

Project Manager · Geosynthetics Africa — internal project team