With the accelerated advancement of China's
national water network construction, geotechnical waterproofing membrane
technology is undergoing revolutionary breakthroughs. According to the latest
report from the China Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society
(CCIGS), China's waterproofing membrane market is projected to reach RMB 31.2
billion by 2025, with eco-friendly high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets
accounting for over 65% of the market and annual exports surging by 40%.
Super Projects Validate Performance
▶ Seepage Control Upgrade for South-North Water Diversion Project
(Central Route):
A three-layer composite waterproof membrane (HDPE + bentonite + GCL) deployed
in expansive soil canal sections reduced leakage from 9.8 L/m²·day to 0.15
L/m²·day after three years of monitoring. Annual water savings equate to two
West Lake reservoirs (approx. 28 million m³).
▶ Xiong'an Underground Utility Tunnel Project:
Wide-width (8m) reinforced PVC membranes coupled with self-healing sealing
tapes reduced leakage risks in groundwater fluctuation zones by 92%.
Mandatory Policy Standard Upgrades
The Municipal Seepage Control Engineering Technical Code (GB/T
50123-2025), implemented August 1 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural
Development, mandates:
✓ Double-weld
seam inspection for critical hydraulic structures
✓ Minimum
thickness of landfill liner systems increased to 2.0mm
✓ Mandatory
30-year material durability certification
"Waterproofing membranes have evolved
from mere seepage barriers to integrated ecological safeguards,"
emphasized Wang Zhenhua, Chief Engineer at the Institute of Materials Science,
China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR). "Our
Qinghai Salt Lake project confirms that the new solar-reflective membrane
reduces reservoir evaporation by 37%, preserving an additional 40 million m³ of
freshwater annually."
[Technology Outlook]
Addressing new energy infrastructure demands:
• PV Power Plant Reservoirs:
Conductive membranes enabling combined seepage control and lightning protection
• Shale Gas Extraction Zones:
Solvent-resistant materials passing Sinopec field tests, withstanding xylene
erosion for >8,000 hours
• Deepwater Cofferdams:
Buoyancy-compensated membrane systems successfully deployed at Zhoushan LNG
tank project, resisting Category 12 typhoon conditions
Lu Minghua, Director of the National
Geosynthetics Testing Center, stated:
"The next five years will see the
industry's 'Four Modernizations':
Functional Materials (self-healing/sensing), Low-Carbon Production (solar-powered lines),
Intelligent Construction (UAV installation), and Blockchain Certification."