Lessons learned from geotextile filter failures under challenging field conditions

This paper reviews sixty-nine (69) field failures involving geotextile filters which performed unsatisfactorily and are categorized herein as failures. They are grouped into four categories; inadequate design, atypical soils, unusual permeants, and improper installation. In the first category are poor fabric selection, poor fabric design, socked drainage pipe and reversing flow conditions. In the second category are fine grained soils, gap-graded soils, dispersive clays and ochre. In the third category are sludges, turbid water, alkaline water, leachates and agricultural waste liquids. In the fourth category are lack of intimate contact and completely adhesive clogging of surfaces. While not the topic of the paper, it should be noted that, most of these same conditions are known to be troublesome to sand filters as well as to geotextile filters.