Geotextiles in Embankment Dams By - Association of State Dam ...

An October 2000 FEMA Research NeedsWorkshop Concluded:“ The current practice for the use of geotextiles in seepagecollection systems varies widely among organizations andpractitioners involved in dam engineering.”• Geotextiles should not be used in locations that are bothcritical to safety and inaccessible for replacement.• Geotextiles can be used in locations that are critical for safetybut accessible for replacement. However, the engineer mustassess the potential hazard posed by failure of the geotextileand the time available to respond and repair or replace thegeotextile.• This position may change in the future based on developmentof data on long-term, in-place performance of geotextiles indam applications.”