Seepage Loss from the Rioni HPP Power Channel and Its Influence on the Surrounding Area

Power channel seepage losses seepage area seepage flow critical discharge phreatic surface groundwater table boundary conditions seepage pressure head numerical modeling FEM iterative solution Laplace differential equation

ავტორები

ტომ. 8 No. 3 (2026)
სტატიები
August 22, 2026

ჩამოტვირთვები

The work aims to assess the impact of seepage losses from the Rioni HPP power channel (with damaged concrete lining) on the surrounding buildings.

A series of calculations, taking into account local topographic and geological conditions, determined the critical value of the seepage flow, at which a phreatic surface can be created at the channel foundation. According to the results, the seepage losses from the channel are less than the critical value of the seepage flow and, accordingly, the impact of the channel on the surrounding buildings cannot be realized. Thus, the dampness developed on the surrounding building is not related to the Rioni HPP channel.

This study evaluated the impact of seepage losses from the Rioni HPP power channel—which currently features damaged concrete lining—on surrounding buildings. Hydrogeological calculations incorporating local topographic and soil conditions established the critical seepage flow required to elevate the phreatic surface to the channel foundation. Because actual seepage losses fall strictly below this critical threshold, hydraulic connectivity to surrounding foundations cannot materialize. Consequently, observed structural dampness in nearby buildings is unrelated to the Rioni HPP power channel.