Slurry Walls

**Slurry Wall Trench being Dug on Site**

Slurry cut-off walls, also referred to simply as slurry walls, are non-structural barriers constructed underground to stop the flow of groundwater. They are used at hazardous waste sites to contain contaminated groundwater. Slurry wall construction is also used at "clean" sites to dewater excavations and to stabilize dams, levees, and similar structures.

The Use of Bentonite in Excavating Slurry Trenches

Slurry walls are constructed by excavating a trench under bentonite slurry. The slurry stabilizes the excavation and prevents it from collapsing, even below the water table. Most slurry cut-off walls are excavated with backhoes which can be modified to dig 80 ft deep and more. When the excavation is complete, the trench is backfilled with an impervious mixture, usually a blend of soil and bentonite; soil, cement, and bentonite; or cement and bentonite.

Geo-Solutions’ Experience with Slurry Wall Construction

The staff of Geo-Solutions has experience in the construction of over a thousand slurry cut-off walls. We can act in a variety of roles. Often we provide on site technical assistance services to general contractors seeking to bid and execute this kind of project work. We also can provide traditional contracting services when requested. In the planning stage of a slurry cut-off wall project we act as consultants to owners that are investigating the economics or feasibility of barrier options. We sometimes provide consulting services to engineering firms that use our design mix skills to devise low-permeability, contaminant-resistant slurry wall bentonite mixtures and rely on our extensive construction experience to help develop detailed plans and cost estimates.

**Slurry Mixing Equipment**

Why Use Geo-Solutions for Your Slurry Walls

A significant difference between Geo-Solutions and other firms is that we can help both design and execute the work. We can provide supervision and all the specialty equipment necessary for slurry cut-off wall and other specialty construction projects. We own a number of high-production mixing plants, excavator stick extensions, narrow buckets and all the miscellaneous specialty equipment necessary for this type of work. For some projects we serve as project managers or the owner’s general contractor to better supervise all aspects of the work. We bring to the project just what you need, no more. We will often team with a local general contractor who can provide locally available labor and equipment to supplement our specialty equipment and supervision for your slurry wall project. The result is an economical project constructed without some of the potential subcontractor hassles and unnecessary costs.

Slurry Cut-Off Wall Project Examples

Recent slurry cut-off wall projects completed by Geo-Solutions include:

**Slurry Wall Movie**
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Technical assistance for a 600,000 sq. ft. site dewatering in Florida

Technical assistance for a 400,000 sq. ft. slurry wall for a water reservoir near Denver

Technical assistance for a 1,000,000 sq. ft. levee improvement in Northern California

A laboratory design bentonite mix program for a 50,000 sq. ft. tank farm containment in Michigan

A laboratory design bentonite mix program for a 100,000 sq. ft. Superfund site in Denver

Technical assistance for 10,000 sq. ft. groundwater containment with slurry cut-off wall construction for a soil remediation in Barbados.

World depth record for a slurry wall in Mayfield Australia—49 meters

Learn More about Slurry Cut-Off Walls

Read and download Geo-Solutions sample specs for soil bentonite slurry cut-off walls, soil bentonite slurry walls with no perm spec, and bio-polymer slurry groundwater collector trenches.

Geo-Solutions has authored over 20 different papers on slurry walls. View our library to read and download several slurry cut-off wall papers and abstracts.

Learn more and view pictures of our portable plant equipment for slurry and grout mixing.

Call Us Today

For help with slurry cut-off walls utilizing various types of bentonite slurry mixes, call us at 724-335-7273.