IMS Launches Reusable Dewatering Technology

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GeoPoolIMS has introduced dewatering technology that it says is inexpensive, reusable, scalable and does not require polymers.

The GeoPool technology was invented by an IMS Versi-Dredge customer and then successfully trialed in the US and Europe. IMS says it recently sold several GeoPools to a customer in the US.

Dewatering is a key obstacle facing dredge contractors. The IMS GeoPool dewatering system is comprised of a series of 10 ft. (3m) wide x 6 ft. (1.8m) tall dismountable hot dip galvanized steel frames. The frames are linked together to form a circular pool-like structure that is lined with IMS’s GeoFabric. It is not the same material as geotextile tube fabric.

A hydraulic dredge pumps the slurry directly into the GeoPool. The water from the slurry permeates through the filter fabric, and the solids are retained in the pool. Once a pool is full it is ready for dry down, which takes anywhere from three to four days depending on material. Some materials, including ultra fine clays, may take longer and might need a polymer to improve effluent clarity. Once the pool is dry the patent-pending GeoPool Collapsible Cleanout Gates are dropped, and tracked earth movers can enter the pool and remove the dry and stackable solids. During dry down the dredge discharge is diverted to a second pool to allow for continuous operation.

In addition to the standard dewatering through the filter fabric, the patent pending GeoPool Dump Doors allow for rapid bulk dewatering of clear surface water speeding up the entire process. The GeoPool’s affordability makes rapid dewatering technology available to contractors and government entities both small and large.

IMS GeoPools are reusable so they are a less expensive proposition than geotextile tubes for medium to large projects and for contractors that use geotextile tubes for many of their projects. In addition to this feature, the GeoPools can handle a much larger volume of material than geotextile tubes. It would take 10 to 40 geotextile tubes to equal the dewatering capacity of one GeoPool. Furthermore, 10 large non-reusable geotextile tubes cost approximately the same as a small GeoPool configuration.

Environment + Energy Leader