Yalova was among the provinces hit hardest by the 1999 Marmara earthquake, and that experience led to most of the city's building stock being rebuilt over the past 25 years. Alluvial plain soil and a high groundwater table, combined with the region's thermal springs, create constant moisture pressure at basement level.
Dense housing and thermal facility development make ground water management particularly critical in Yalova. We install drainage systems suited to this high water table both on housing projects rebuilt after the earthquake and at thermal facilities.
The solution we apply most often in Yalova is a twin layer drainage system supported by membranes chosen to withstand the hot groundwater of the spa area.
On housing projects built to the current seismic code, we prepare the groundwater discharge plan alongside the structural design, before the foundation is poured.
The three situations we meet most often in Yalova
Very high water table. In settlements on the narrow coastal plain the water table lies very close to the surface. Waterproofing installed without drainage in basements and below ground spaces works under constant hydrostatic pressure.
Different conditions in thermal spring areas. Near thermal sources the temperature and mineral content of the water affect material selection. Systems suited to those conditions with documented resistance should be chosen rather than standard products.
Salt and moisture in buildings near the coast. Sea influence brings moisture and salt together and raises the risk of reinforcement corrosion. Waterproofing here also takes on the role of protecting the concrete.
What we look at during the survey
Water table level and its seasonal variation, proximity to thermal springs and the character of the water, distance to the sea and signs of salt attack, the position of the basement relative to the water table, and discharge options and whether pumping is required.