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5 high-tech small-scale flood control systems

Metro Manila and nearby provinces are currently suffering from torrential rains and massive flooding. And while I was putting up my own makeshift sandbags to keep water from flowing into my house, I kept on wondering if there are small-scale flood control systems that we can use at home. Here’s what I found so far.

Inflatable rubber dams

inflatable_dam

Inflatable rubber dams are the most common flood control systems being used in the world. These are cylindrical rubber fabrics that are installed in the path of incoming water to divert the flow or prevent water intrusion. These dams come in different sizes and are pumped with water, air or both.

Artificial sandbags

quick dam

Normal sandbags are sacks usually filled with, well, sand. With artificial sandbags, a special super absorbent chemical powder is used instead of ordinary sand. One example of this product is the Quick Dam.

When not in use (dry) it just weighs than less than a pound. It can absorb up to 4 gallons of water and weigh up to a maximum of 30 lbs.

Flood barriers

floodark

Flood barriers are custom-made systems that are installed on doors, windows and garages. It’s basically an easy to install watertight wall that you can put up to prevent floods from coming in to your house. One example is the Floodark system. Take a look at the video below (skip to 1:50):

HESCO Concertainer units

HESCO

A HESCO Concertainer unit is a multi-cellular wall system manufactured from welded zinc-aluminium coated steel wire mesh and joined with vertical, helical coil joints. The units are lined with a heavy-duty non-woven polypropylene geotextile.

In essence, these are high-tech mesh baskets that are filled with dirt or sand. Normally, these are used by soldiers as walls to deter incoming fire but can be used to block off water.

Aqua Levee

aqua levee

The Aqua Levee is a flood control system that consists of triangular cross-section tube-like structures that are filled with water and stacked to form a temporary levee (or dyke). These levees will be pumped with water and can be installed in dry or flowing conditions.

And there you have it. Most of these flood control systems are only available in the U.S. but we’re hoping that some can make it here or a company based in the Philippines can manufacture some since we can certainly make use of it in times like these.

{sources: 1, 2, 3, 4} {image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

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This article was written by Louie Diangson, Managing Editor of YugaTech. You can follow him at @John_Louie.

14 Responses

  1. Avatar for Sandbag Store Sandbag Store says:

    # Great Post! Thank you for sharing useful information. We are also
    a provider of
    flood protection sandbags
    .
    Visit our website for more info https://www.sandbagstore.co.nz/

  2. Avatar for noy noy says:

    lahat yan hindi uubra sa baha natin, lampas tao sa tingin nyo may magagawa yan? useless! another corruption lang yan. ayusin ang drainage, wag magtapon ng basura sa ilog, linisin at tanggalan ng burak ang ilog. yan ang dapat nating gawin at ng gobyerno!

  3. Avatar for wew wew says:

    pinakagusto ko ung flood barriers,di siya eyesore haha

  4. Avatar for Daniel Escasa Daniel Escasa says:

    While some of our flooding is the result of overflowing rivers, isn’t some of it also from ground seepage?

  5. Avatar for chito chito says:

    there are flood barriers by quick dam sa wilcon.

  6. Avatar for Baggy Baggy says:

    I hate to be the bearer of bad news. Any sandbag solution would only work if you also seal off your connection to the drainage/sewer system. Otherwise, if water seriously rises outside, it will just find its way through the pipes and in to your bathroom, etc.

    • Avatar for rr rr says:

      hello baggy, that happens if your house sewer doesn’t have gate/check valves. what you are saying is called backflow in plumbing terminologies. these valve prevents discharged wastes from getting back on the plumbing system of the house. :)

  7. Avatar for PJ PJ says:

    The artificial sandbag is available in Wilcon home builders.

  8. Avatar for Chikita Chikita says:

    This will only divert the water to your neighbors..making you look like a dick.

  9. Avatar for Pat Pat says:

    parang puro bigating ang presyo XD

  10. Avatar for Neil Neil says:

    We got two 6-inch by 10-feet Flood Barriers from Wilcon for around P1k each last year. Hindi pa namin natry up to now though. :P

  11. Avatar for wew wew says:

    i think the aqua levee and the inflatable rubber dams will be perfect to be bought by our govt that will be used in flooded areas,mukha mura lang at mabilis lang ilagay…ung artificial sandbags mukhang mahal gamitin kasi andami mong kailangan bilhin,mas ok pa ung floodark atleast maayos at malinis pa rin tignan d tulad ng artificial sandbags na eyesore

  12. Avatar for charles charles says:

    Late na! Pinasok na ng tubig bahay lo!

  13. Avatar for sinoka56 sinoka56 says:

    wala eh bulok ang Pilipinas :))

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