Planais water pump plant

Italy, San Giorgio di Nogaro (UD)
Geocontainers for river banks erosion control

Problem:
in May 2012, the new Planais water pump plant was inaugurated to avoid flooding of the production plants in the Aussa-Corno industrial zone. The hydraulic works called for two separate systems for run-off water and waste water, various open air channels for rainfalls, and a water pumping station for raising the rain water coming from all the surronding.
As territory existing Planais water pumping station was insufficient for the new discharge rates, a new modular station was constructed, next to the existing one, to be activated, in parallel with the existing station.
After installation of the new water pumps, it was necessary to protect the river banks downstream from the station. In any case, also the banks upstream required adequate protection due to the thrust caused by the bends in the river bed.
For this reason, a structure capable of resisting the water thrust, while featuring long-term durability to water and UV exposure was required.
Furthermore, rapid installation times were needed even in the presence of moving water, as well as flexibility and ability to adapt to any unevenness in the laying plane, and the possibility of using smaller stones than usual rip-rap -with its normally sharp edges that could be easily found locally.

Solution:
All the characteristics listed above were found in the two-ton Ecogreen Filter Unit® flexible gabions.
These containers, once filled with stone, are 0.4 m high, have a 1.90 m diameter and a 1.24 m3 volume.
Two cross-section types were designed:
Type A: downstream from the water pumping station, consisting of four, 2-ton elements: three elements were stacked and one placed on the side, in contact with the bank soil;
Type B: upstream from the plant consisting of three stacked elements held together with piling. As the inert fill materials in the Filter Unit® elements were sourced locally with ease, the installation time was minimized with pleasing results.

The Filter Unit® elements fit perfectly in the natural environment, promoting revegetation of the water-soil borderline.