Much of the water channels constructed in Australia have been manufactured with locally available substrate materials, often with poor water retaining characteristics. Studies of the Goulburn-Murray Water region have found seepage ranging from 2.4 to 116L/m2/day (Dunstone, 1998). Until relatively recently, such losses could have been considered acceptable. However, the lack of water security threatening the viability of many regions in rural Australia has made increasing the efficiency of our rural supply networks vital.
 
To alleviate losses in channels Islex can install HDPE liners into existing channel networks, effectively eliminating losses into the substrate. (Permeation through the HDPE300 membrane itself is virtually negligible at 0.017g/m^2/day.) In addition, evaporation losses can be dramatically reduced with the installation of floating covers.