PVC aquaculture liners stand the test of time

After more than 29 years of service in an aquatic environment, this 20-mil PVC geomembrane retained its flexibility and strength, enabling it to perform as a successful water barrier. This indicates that plasticizer retention in an aquatic environment is not a problem even with 20-mil-thick material. These results are significant because they support the use of PVC geomembranes in non-aquatic applications. This is reinforced by comparison of the test results for material from above and below the water line that show greater plasticizer retention for above-water-line material. This case history also shows that PVC geomembrane material and its seams were not compromised or deteriorated by root penetration or microorganisms, even though the material was only 20 mil thick.