EROSION AND SEEPAGE CONTROL OF

HIGH EMBANKMENT OF A CLOSED RED MUD POND

A CASE STUDY

KETAN N. SHAHK.K.ENTERPRISES

KOLKATA

Environment and Geotechnical Solutions Company

Red Mud PondRed Mud Pond

Red Mud is a waste generated when Red Mud is a waste generated when Aluminium is extracted from bauxite.Aluminium is extracted from bauxite.

It contains Oxides of Iron, Titanium and It contains Oxides of Iron, Titanium and CalciumCalcium

It contains trace amount of heavy metals It contains trace amount of heavy metals and sometimes radioactive materialsand sometimes radioactive materials

It is highly alkaline and causes soil and It is highly alkaline and causes soil and water pollutionwater pollution

Caustic and other chemicals leachingCaustic and other chemicals leaching

Old-Closed Red mud pond covered Old-Closed Red mud pond covered with Cinder and Soilwith Cinder and Soil

ProblemsProblems Leaching of caustic and other chemicals.Leaching of caustic and other chemicals.

Rain water entering from the top was coming Rain water entering from the top was coming out of the slope with caustic and other out of the slope with caustic and other hazardous chemicals and flowing into a nearby hazardous chemicals and flowing into a nearby River River

Erosion of slope of embankment.Erosion of slope of embankment. The slope was 40 to 45 degree steepThe slope was 40 to 45 degree steep Slope length was 22 to 27 mSlope length was 22 to 27 m Height 17m to 20 mHeight 17m to 20 m

PROBLEMPROBLEM

WASTE

Subarnarekha River

Cinder and Soil

IDEAL SOLUTIONIDEAL SOLUTION

Sheet Piling

Geosynthetic Capping

WASTE

The Acceptable SolutionThe Acceptable Solution

Leaching of chemicals could be decreased Leaching of chemicals could be decreased by controlling ingress of rain water into the by controlling ingress of rain water into the closed red mud pond.closed red mud pond. Drainage of rain water from the surfaceDrainage of rain water from the surface

Erosion could be minimised by growing Erosion could be minimised by growing vegetationvegetation Vegetation supported by coir geocellsVegetation supported by coir geocells

SOLUTIONSOLUTION

WASTE

Subarnrekha River

Cinder and Soil

Design – Cross Section ViewDesign – Cross Section View

Design – Plan ViewDesign – Plan View

Excavating Top TrenchExcavating Top Trench

Excavating the Top Trench Excavating the Top Trench

Laying of Fibertex F-25 in Top TrenchLaying of Fibertex F-25 in Top Trench

Trenches dug down the slopeTrenches dug down the slope

Installation of Viadrain and Perforated PipesInstallation of Viadrain and Perforated Pipes

Installation of Via DrainInstallation of Via Drain

Backfilling of Trenches with excavated soilBackfilling of Trenches with excavated soil

Slope after completion of drainage worksSlope after completion of drainage works

Installation of GeocellsInstallation of Geocells

Geocell and Top SoilGeocell and Top Soil

Gauging the success of the Drainage SystemGauging the success of the Drainage System

Progressive Vegetation after installationProgressive Vegetation after installation

Progressive Vegetation after installation 2Progressive Vegetation after installation 2

Progressive Vegetation after installation 3Progressive Vegetation after installation 3

The project was completed in May 2009 and is under

observation

Please visit us at www.florafab.com for future

updates

K.K.ENTERPRISESare proud to be associated with this

project as providers of Design materials and Supervision

Thank You for your kind attention !!