Erosion barrier method and apparatus

Abstract

An erosion barrier wastewater treatment system and in particular a liner for a wastewater treatment lagoon that provides for trapped gas below the barrier to be released through vents within the barrier and in particular to a liner for a wastewater treatment lagoon that may have portions replaced without operation of the wastewater lagoon facility being interrupted.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A pond or lagoon liner comprising:
 a plurality of panels fastened together to define a ring which circumscribes the pond or lagoon;   each panel comprising:
 a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges; 
 a pocket formed at the bottom edge of each panel; 
 a ballast supported in the pocket of each panel; 
 a vent formed in the panel; and 
   wherein the vent opens to release air and gas build up from under the liner.   
     
     
         2 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the vent is of a material that is lighter in weight than the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the vent having a cover that is larger in dimension and covers an opening in the liner, the cover being adhered to the upper surface of the liner. 
     
     
         4 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an upper portion of the panel that is secured within a trench and buried with soil to secure the liner in place. 
     
     
         5 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of fastening points spaced along the opposing side edges of each of the plurality of panels and
 a plurality of webbing strips having a plurality of fastening points comparably spaced to the panel fastening points; and 
 wherein a webbing strip secures a first panel to a second panel using the plurality of comparably spaced fastening points and a first panel may be replaced by detaching the first panel from the webbing strip without disturbing the second panel from an embankment of the pond or lagoon. 
 
     
     
         6 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the plurality of panels are fastened together using the plurality of webbing strips and the liner is positioned in the pond or lagoon without emptying the pond or lagoon of fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the plurality of panels are fastened together using the plurality of webbing strips and the liner is positioned in the pond or lagoon without interruption of facility operation. 
     
     
         8 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcing webbing applied along the top edge, bottom edge and opposing side edges of each panel to further reinforce the liner encompassing the pond or lagoon. 
     
     
         9 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the pocket is formed on the bottom edge of each panel by overlapping a lowermost edge of each panel and affixing the lowermost edge along a length of the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The pond or lagoon liner as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the reinforcing webbing applied along the bottom edge facilitates the support and the affixing of the lowermost edge to the panel in defining the pocket for the ballast. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preventing erosion in a fluid treatment pond or lagoon comprising the steps of:
 fastening together a plurality of panels using a plurality of connecting strips of webbing;   fabricating each panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges;   forming a pocket at the bottom edge of each panel;   supporting a ballast in the pocket of each panel;   forming a plurality of vents in at least one panel; and   wherein the plurality of panels are positioned along an embankment of a lagoon and at least one of the plurality of vents opens to discharge gaseous build up from under the plurality of panels to maintain the lower surface of each of the plurality of panels in continuous contact with the embankment to prevent erosion of the embankment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of preventing erosion in a fluid treatment pond or lagoon as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising the step of applying a reinforcing webbing along the bottom edge to facilitate support and affixing of a lowermost edge to the panel in defining the pocket to support the ballast. 
     
     
         13 . The method of preventing erosion in a fluid treatment pond or lagoon as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising the step of positioning the liner in the pond or lagoon without emptying the pond or lagoon of fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of preventing erosion in a fluid treatment pond or lagoon as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising the step of burying the top edge of each panel in a trench above a fluid surface level in the pond or lagoon. 
     
     
         15 . The method of preventing erosion in a fluid treatment pond or lagoon as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising the step of installing the liner in the pond or lagoon without interruption of facility operation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of preventing erosion in a fluid treatment pond or lagoon as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising the step of replacing a panel of the liner by disconnecting only the panel to be replaced from a connecting strip of webbing without unsettling an adjacent panel also attached to the connecting strip of webbing.