While Minnesota is called the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” rising water levels in these lakes and rivers and increasing amounts of rain and snow have caused the state to experience more flooding in recent years than before.Homeowners need to plan for flood control to protect their properties, which may now be included in recently expanded and expanding 100- and 500-year flood plain maps.
The AquaDam is a water-filled barrier that is a useful addition to any flood control plan. It can also be used in construction work to isolate the job site for dewatering and in water storage applications for inexpensive mass water storage. No matter the application, the AquaDam should be considered as a solution for your water control problems.
How the AquaDam Flood Barrier Works
The AquaDam features dual watertight inner tubes constrained within an outer sleeve. Installation is accomplished by unrolling the AquaDam along the desired path. The AquaDam can bend and curve, eliminating the need for connecting multiple units. Then, fill the AquaDam’s inner tubes with water, creating a heavy barrier that will divert water away from the protected area.
After the high water has receded, leaving the dry ground, the AquaDam can be drained by a siphon or pump, and then rolled up for storage. The AquaDam has a high potential for reuse, but the reusability of an AquaDam is not guaranteed.
The AquaDam is practical for homeowners in Minnesota because of the high availability of groundwater (or standing water), the high risk of flooding across the state, ease and speed of deployment compared to traditional alternatives (sandbags), and the AquaDam’s resistance to damage from freezing temperatures.
Residential Flood Barriers in Minnesota
Many recent major flooding events and flash floods have put regions of Minnesota that have never had flooding problems at risk. Flood barriers for homes are a necessary part of a flood control plan.
The AquaDam can be used to surround and isolate a residential property prior to or during a flood event. A successful flood control plan can mitigate the cost of damage caused by floodwaters.
AquaDam flood control barriers can be much less costly than sandbags or other traditional earth-filled alternatives. The homeowners will also realize additional savings after the flood, through the reduction or elimination of disposal fees associated with the temporary perimeter flood barrier.
AquaDam Flood Control barriers are available in heights of 4 feet or lower; larger AquaDams are available by special request after site review.
Cofferdams for Commercial Applications
Apart from protecting homeowners during flooding, there are other uses for AquaDam water-filled barriers in Minnesota, including isolating work areas for construction work, protecting government infrastructure, and other water control applications.
Construction Work
For construction sites that border or include submerged areas, a water control barrier (cofferdam) is necessary to isolate the work area prior to dewatering. Once a cofferdam, such as an AquaDam, has isolated a work area, dewatering can begin in preparation for work in the dry.
The AquaDam is a superior cofferdam due to the minimal impact and disturbance caused by its use and removal. For most AquaDams, installation is accomplished within a single day, with:
- Minimal noise
- No hydraulic vibration pollution
- No turpidity discharges
- No subsurface disturbance
Its virgin resin high-grade polyethylene and polypropylene material will not impact the job site’s environment at any time. For wintertime construction projects, the AquaDam will withstand cold Minnesota temperatures, which can oftentimes drop well below the freezing point. The AquaDam is resistant to damage from freezing.
Government Infrastructure
During flooding, especially in Minnesota, critical infrastructure such as hospitals, police and fire departments, water and wastewater treatment plants, and electrical stations and substations are at risk. AquaDams allow local and state governments to protect these vital resources — maintaining public service when it is needed the most.
When deployed before flooding, these flood control barriers can reduce property damage and the associated repair costs.
Other Water Control Applications
There are other uses for AquaDams in Minnesota besides construction projects. The AquaDam can:
- Isolate roadways that would otherwise be rendered impassable by floodwaters
- Isolate hazardous materials after a spill
- Plug breached levees
- Provide an isolated body of water for hatching and growing fish
Water Storage AquaDams in Minnesota
In addition to acting as a temporary water barrier, the AquaDam can also be used for water storage. The AquaDam is constructed with potable grade inner tubing, which may hold tens of thousands of gallons. Clean water, clean water out.
Unlike traditional, cylindrical tanks, AquaDams can be placed side by side, with no gaps in between, yielding a great storage capacity in a given deployment footprint. AquaDams are ideal for work areas with limited space, limited access, or a large capacity requirement. When empty and rolled up for transportation, the AquaDam occupies a fraction of its filled volume.
There are two ways to store water with an AquaDam:
- Storage internal to an AquaDam, as a stand-alone unit
- The AquaDam is used as a perimeter berm, surrounding an above-ground area, that, when lined, forms an above-ground, open-top (covers available) water storage area with no excavation required. Stored water can be accessed anywhere along the perimeter
An AquaDam can be used as a water storage solution for:
- General water storage during construction projects.
- Water storage prior to testing
- Agricultural irrigation reserves
- Fire protection reserves
- Drinking water reserves
Benefits of AquaDam as Temporary Water Filled Barriers for Minnesota
While there are many temporary water-filled barriers available, the AquaDam leads the temporary water-filled perimeter barrier sector. Sandbags and other traditional earth-filled materials are slow, dirty, and costly to install and remove, with dubious efficacy.
Choosing water-filled barriers in Minnesota results in:
- Greater effectiveness. AquaDams are more effective than any other water control solution, because they are water-filled, conforming to uneven ground surface elevations.The body of the AquaDam is impermeable, eliminating the possibility of seepage through the barrier. Some seepage through the ground beneath the AquaDam should be expected and planned for.
- A cleaner solution. AquaDams are clean with minimal environmental impact, conforming to Clean Water Act requirements. AquaDams don’t generate turbidity, and installation is quick with negligible environmental impact
- Quicker deployment. AquaDams take less time to deploy since water on-site serves as the fill material. Deployment and recovery can take as little as one day
- Lower labor costs. AquaDams water-filled barriers require less labor to construct, compared to traditional earth-filled structures, like sandbags. Water can be pumped continuously with little effort, while sandbags must be filled, transported and placed individually
Minnesotans: Order Your Water-Filled Barrier Today!
With its various advantages and applications, the AquaDam is a water-filled barrier for your Minnesota water control needs.
Contact AquaDam today to purchase an AquaDam for your home, business or construction project. With many height options and standard lengths up to 1,200 feet, you are likely to find an option that solves your water control problem.