Presentation and key elements
What is it?
Slurry walls are non-structural underground barriers with specific hydraulic and permeability characteristics. A trench is excavated under slurry and backfilled. In cut-off walls backfilling is with a homogeneous stable mix of excavated soil, bentonite slurry and clay. In permeable barriers the trench is backfilled with a permeable material and may include special products to neutralise contaminants.
When and why use it?
Slurry walls are most often used to intercept groundwater migration for pollutant containment for landfills or heavily contaminated industrial sites. It is a cost-effective method for the environmental containment of water-borne contaminants, the installation of reactive groundwater barriers or drainage barriers.
💡 Menard’s tip
Slurry walls have been installed to depth of approximately 50 m. Soilbentonite slurry walls create reduced volumes of spoil because excavated material is reused as backfill material.
