Ernsdale Reservoir, Lancashire

Project Overview

A major landslide close to Earnsdale service reservoir in Lancashire saw several trees and earth collapse into the stream below. In addition to the remediation of the slide, a major focus was made to provide drainage from the unaffected slope, adjacent to the failed area, to prevent any further slippage upstream of the river in the wooded area below the dam.

Solution

Drains driven into the slope at a 5 degree inclination were generically specified as part of the scheme. Platipus Anchors were approached to provide an Indemnified Design specifically for their Plati-Drains.

Plati-Drains are a unique solution to reduce pore water pressure within clay slopes; fast and easy installation using simple tools can prevent shallow and deep seated slope failures. A deep slope penetration in excess of 10m can create an immediate channel for water to drain. On this occasion, the drains exhausted into a plastic pipe to carry the water away from the clay layer and into the sand layer below.