ABSTRACT
In karst areas, a special approach has to be applied to counteract seepage around the dams, from the reservoirs, and to prevent groundwater intrusion into the underground excavations.
Because of the nature of karst, it is easy to select the dam site location that would be acceptable for construction without serious, large-scale underground or surface impermeabilization. The grout curtain design is an iterative process, and its realization should focus on the final product rather than on obstacles. The reservoir does not have to be 100% watertight, but the seepage must not cause progressive erosion (criterion of sustainability). The satisfactory performance of the grout curtain will become evident only during and after impounding of the reservoir.
