GEOTUBE
Dewatering tubes
High-efficiency geotextile dewatering technology
Reducing water content, retaining solids, and minimizing handling costs
Dewatering sludge, tailings, and other high-moisture waste streams remains a persistent operational challenge. Traditional geotextile tubes often retain excessive moisture, and mechanical systems are capital-intensive and prone to failure. The result: higher disposal volumes, more frequent handling, and limited efficiency in consolidation and drying.
GEOTUBE® Dewatering tubes address these limitations by combining simple, passive dewatering with proven performance in capturing solids, accelerating drying, and reducing operational footprint. Capable of achieving volume reductions of up to 90 percent, GEOTUBE Dewatering units enable efficient containment, dewatering, and consolidation – without the need for additional infrastructure.
Dewatering and consolidation in one integrated step
GEOTUBE Dewatering units are fabricated from high-strength geotextiles designed to retain solids while allowing filtrate to escape. Sludge is pumped into the container, and polymers are added to bind fine particles and accelerate water release. Filtrate drains through the fabric, leaving solids behind in the form of a filter cake. Over time, consolidation continues as water is drawn out via capillary action.
GEOTUBE Dewatering units are available with wicking yarn technology for enhanced performance. These wicking geotextiles create internal suction, improving water removal from clay- and silt-rich materials and producing significantly drier final solids. Comparative studies show accelerated filter cake formation, reduced sludge bleeding, and higher-efficiency effluent discharge when compared to conventional dewatering tubes.
For covered or uncovered installations, GEOTUBE Dewatering containers can be customized to suit the available footprint and stacked to optimize space. When dewatering is complete, solids can be removed for reuse or disposal, or the tube can be capped in place.
Key benefits
Simple installation and operation: no mechanical parts, no complex setup
Significant volume reduction: up to 90 percent, depending on material and conditions
Enhanced consolidation: wicking geotextiles reduce final moisture content
Reliable solids capture: >99 percent solids retention and high contaminant capture
Flexible configuration: customized tube dimensions to suit any laydown area
Improved drying bed performance: increases capacity and reduces drying time
Reduced odor, no noise, low maintenance: ideal for remote and urban sites
Stackable and mobile: can be deployed in roll-off boxes or permanent pads