Dyke/levee rehabilitation is the structural renewal of ageing or damaged inland flood embankments so they once again meet current hydraulic and geotechnical requirements. Worn sealing layers, internal erosion and settlement over soft subsoils progressively erode the reliability of a levee’s flood defence. Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners, Secugrid® high-strength geogrids, Secutex® filter geotextiles and Secumat® erosion control mats combine into one complete, standards-compliant system for renewing river and inland levees.
Naue product systems are deployed wherever watertight sealing, structural stability and ecological compatibility are decisive in inland water engineering.
Restoring the waterside sealing and structural integrity of ageing river flood embankments with Bentofix® GCL systems.
Protecting levee slopes and crests from overtopping and surface erosion with Secumat® erosion control mats.
Recovery watertightness and stability in deteriorated dam structures with Bentofix® and Secugrid® HS.
Stabilising canal slopes and preventing internal erosion behind bank linings with Secutex® filter geotextiles.
Securing the structural stability of new and rehabilitated embankments over peat and organic subsoils with Secugrid® HS.
Levee rehabilitation depends on geosynthetics that stay reliable in demanding site conditions. Bentofix® GCLs are simply unrolled into place and self-seal at the overlaps, with no welding equipment needed. Secugrid® HS geogrids are light relative to their tensile capacity and can be laid quickly with a spreader bar, even across uneven or waterlogged ground. Both are built to be installed under tight time constraints.
Practical site advantages:
Renewing a levee means tackling two hydraulic failure modes at the same time. When the waterside sealing layer has deteriorated, water seeps directly into the embankment body. When the filter layer between the levee core and the drainage aggregate is missing or has failed, fine soil particles begin to migrate – internal erosion, or piping – which slowly hollows the embankment out from inside.
Key principle: sealing keeps seepage out; filtration stops internal erosion. A complete levee rehabilitation design needs both functions.
Core benefit: a dependable, long-term hydraulic barrier with minimal construction effort.
Core benefit: lasting structural protection of the drainage system.
The right product depends on the particular failure mode or rehabilitation need identified during the site investigation. The table below works as a decision guide, linking failure mode, subsoil condition and required function to the recommended product.
| Requirement | Subsoil condition | Required function | Recommended product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worn waterside sealing | Any – clay unavailable or costly | Hydraulic barrier (sealing) | Bentofix® NSP or Bentofix® Green (biodegradable) |
| Internal erosion/piping risk | Sandy core or non-cohesive drainage fill | Filtration – stop particle migration | Secutex® filter geotextile (needle-punched, BAW-tested) |
| Inadequate basal stability | Soft subsoil: peat, organic silt, clay | Basal reinforcement (high tensile strength) | Secugrid® HS (uniaxial, perpendicular to the levee axis) |
| Surface erosion/slope instability | Any slope subject to overtopping or rainfall | Erosion control with vegetation establishment | Secumat® erosion control mat |
| Combined: sealing + basal reinforcement | Soft ground with no clay seal | Sealing and load transfer | Bentofix® GCL + Secugrid® HS (combined design) |
| Combined: reinforcement + filtration | Soft subsoil where fines may migrate | Stabilisation and filtration in one layer | Combigrid® (Secugrid® + Secutex® composite) |
Reduce material volumes and transport costs
Bentofix® GCLs replace compacted-clay seals at a fraction of the transport volume: one truckload of GCL rolls delivers the sealing performance of more than 150 truckloads of compacted clay. That directly cuts haulage costs and site traffic on every project.
Restore long-term flood defence reliability
Geosynthetic sealing systems form a hydraulically verified, standards-compliant barrier. Secutex® filter geotextiles hold their filtration efficiency for decades, preventing the progressive internal erosion that leads to levee failure.
Achieve stability on soft subsoils
Secugrid® HS basal reinforcement mobilises tensile forces perpendicular to the levee axis, delivering the stability needed on peat and organic subsoils where conventional fill would settle too much.
Accelerate construction and reduce programme risk
Geosynthetics install by unrolling – quick, with minimal plant. Bentofix® GCLs need no welding equipment, and Secumat® erosion mats can be cut and placed by hand on steep slopes, taking pressure off the critical path.
Minimise ecological disturbance
Bentofix® Green uses biodegradable* carrier geotextiles for sensitive aquatic environments, helping to meet ecological impact assessment requirements.
Levee rehabilitation is the structural upgrading of existing flood embankments that no longer satisfy current hydraulic, geotechnical or regulatory requirements. It is usually prompted by worn sealing layers, signs of internal erosion, settlement over soft subsoils, or stricter flood return-period requirements arising from updated hazard assessments.
It depends on the failure mode identified. Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners handle waterside sealing, Secutex® filter geotextiles prevent piping in drainage layers, and Secugrid® HS geogrids provide basal reinforcement over soft subsoils. Secumat® erosion control mats shield slopes from surface erosion, while Combigrid® unites reinforcement and filtration in a single layer.
In Germany the key references are DIN 19712 (flood protection structures), the BAW Merkblatt on geotextile filters (Federal Waterways Engineering) and the EAU recommendations. UK projects are governed by BS 6349 and CIRIA C683, while EN 13251 sets out the characteristic values of geotextiles for hydraulic engineering.
A single truckload of Bentofix® GCL rolls seals the same area as more than 150 truckloads of compacted clay (Onod, Hungary project reference). That translates directly into lower transport costs, less haulage time and reduced transport costs. Because no clay has to be won from borrow pits, the related site-preparation and environmental-mitigation costs disappear as well.
Bentofix® GCLs are unrolled onto the prepared slope with self-sealing 50 cm overlaps and need no welding equipment. Secugrid® HS geogrids are unrolled with their main stress direction running perpendicular to the levee axis, adjacent panels overlapping by 50 cm. Secumat® erosion mats can be cut and placed by hand on steep slopes. Every product installs quickly using standard construction plant.
Yes. Naue products for hydraulic engineering are tested against the relevant European and national standards, including EN 13251 for geotextiles and GCLs in this field. Secutex® filter geotextiles are BAW-tested for long-term filter efficiency, and Bentofix® GCLs are designed and tested to remain stable under hydraulic loading.
Yes. For decades Naue geosynthetics have been used in levee rehabilitation and new-build flood protection projects across Europe and beyond. References include the 3 km levee reconstruction between Friedrichsthal and Gartz, Germany (63,000 m² of Secugrid® HS) and the Onod flood protection levee, Hungary (64,000 m² of Bentofix® NSP 4900). Further case studies are available on this page.
Yes. Combigrid® integrates a Secugrid® geogrid and a Secutex® nonwoven filter geotextile into one composite product. It is especially useful where a single installation pass has to deliver both basal reinforcement and separation/filtration – for instance on very soft subsoils where fine particles might otherwise migrate into the reinforcement layer. Installing one layer instead of two shortens construction time and lowers interface risk.
The design for Geosynthetic systems for dyke/levee rehabilitation are dimensioned in line with recognised national and international standards. Our design tool helps you identify the optimum system for your particular project.
Naue Bentofix® is a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) for waterproofing in landfill engineering, groundwater protection and hydraulic applications.
Naue Secugrid® HS is a high strength geogrid for soil reinforcement in embankments and load transfer platforms on soft soils.
Naue Secutex® H is a geotextile for separation and filtration in hydraulic engineering, coastal protection and waterway construction.
Naue Combigrid® is a geogrid with integrated nonwoven geotextile that combines stabilisation, reinforcement, separation and filtration in a single installation step.
