Loch Iarnan Dam

Adding Life to Concrete – How MARKHAM applied hydrogel waterproofing systems to a new Loch Iarnan Dam Structure at Loch Iarnan, Isle of Islay, Inner Hebrides.

This project involved concrete waterproofing and durability treatment for the new Loch Iarnan Dam on the Isle of Islay.

OBJECTIVE

MARKHAM were tasked with providing a waterproofing and durability enhancement system for a new concrete dam structure in Loch Iarnan, Isle of Islay. This was part of the provision of a new dam serving the Ardbeg Distillery. The water in this area is naturally very soft and consequently is quite aggressive in attacking concrete.

The objective therefore was to provide a solution that would protect this new structure from soft water attack and subsequent structure deterioration.

SOLUTION

For the Loch Iarnan Dam project, the MARKHAM system used to achieve these goals was the spray application of AQURON 2000. This retro spray application provides a waterproofing solution that penetrates up to 150mm into the concrete, minimising the ingress of soft water / chemicals that would degrade the concrete, providing a lasting protection to this critical piece of infrastructure.

RESULTS

As a VOC Free, Non-Hazardous, DWI Reg 21 approved product, suitable for use in locations used for the storage of potable water, AQURON 2000 was a very rapid and cost-effective solution for waterproofing the concrete structure, without any risk of contaminating the water stored in the reservoir or causing any potential damage to surrounding eco systems.

The application of AQURON 2000 is very “surface condition tolerant” and made it an ideal solution for application in this location given the very changeable nature of the weather in this location. AQURON products can be applied to damp concrete which, at the time of application (December 2022) the rainfall meant that the concrete was almost permanently wet.

As AQURON 2000 is a product that penetrates deep into the concrete matrix, there are no ongoing maintenance requirements or operation costs making this solution a very attractive proposition in terms of the geographic location of the structure and the challenges associated with taking the dam out of service to carry out maintenance work.

These outcomes provided long term durability benefits for the Loch Iarnan Dam in the wet and coastal climate of the Isle of Islay.

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