An 8ft tall 17ft wide 230ft long single closed end (SCE) AquaDam was installed to de-water a portion of a lake in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. A 3.45ft diameter sewage pipe 4,500ft long needed to be pulled under three lakes (103ft below ground) that divide the town.

The 8ft tall SCE AquaDam was started higher in elevation up its starting bank than the full height of the AquaDam along its dedicated path. This will ensure that the fill-tubes would remain higher than the AquaDam. It is essential to have a starting bank that maintains a higher elevation than the body of the AquaDam. The open end and fill-tubes of the SCE AquaDam must remain elevated above the full height of the dam along its designated path. It is important to note that an AquaDam will only reach its maximum height at the lowest elevation point along its designated path.

The 8ft tall SCE AquaDams was easily turned as it was filled and it can conform to almost any environment. As the AquaDam fills, it unrolls in a straight line. Bends or turns can be made by pulling on either side of the roll with rope, often in conjunction with decreasing the pumping action in one side of the AquaDam, causing it to naturally turn.

The mud seen in this photo, from the drilling, was coming up in from an unexpected location, 20ft from the shoreline. The AquaDam was installed into a horseshoe or “U” shape configuration to surround the area and keep the fresh water, from the drilling, from leaching into the salt water in the rest of the lake.

The AquaDam can be adjusted during installation in multiple ways. One method involves slowing down or stopping the pump connected to the fill-tube on the inside of the turn. Another option is to pull on one side of the log around which the AquaDam is rolled, using ropes attached to heavy equipment. Additionally, both methods can be used in conjunction.

Looking back at the starting bank, as the 8ft tall AquaDam continues to fill.

One great technique for making a turn is adding small pleats in the material on the inside of the turn. Smaller pleats help the water flow smoothly around the folds.

Here we can see the end of the AquaDam at its ending bank. The AquaDam should meet both the starting and ending banks square. The remaining length and closed end of the dam are still rolled up around the beam that it was shipped with. It is better to have extra length than not enough.

The 8ft tall SCE AquaDam has been successfully installed and needs to finish being filled with water. In the photo, you can see the fill-tubes placed over the backside of the starting bank. The bank is high enough to prevent the water from escaping the AquaDam.

The 8ft tall SCE AquaDam continues to fill.

This was just the beginning of the wildlife we would encounter on this job. Kind of a blurry photo, can you tell what that is?

Here we can see three turns very close to one another.

As the AquaDam filled with water it began to settle into the mud slightly. The weight of a filled AquaDam may displace soft mud. Soft mud depths must be included with the maximum controllable water depth.

Here we can see the ending bank again, this time after the AquaDam is almost full of water.

A side view of the remaining length and closed end of the AquaDam still rolled up on its beam. Securing this end is a good idea to keep the unrolled length rolled up.

After the AquaDam has enough head above the surrounding water, the dam's body can serve as a platform for walking and various other activities.

Workers have brought a pump out onto the AquaDam and started setting it up.

The 8ft tall SCE AquaDam is full and now workers can begin de-watering the work area.

With all of the mud in the work area, workers needed a good hole for the suction hose.

As the water level drops, the presence of the mud can really be seen.

Here is one end of the 4,500-foot long sewage pipe that is going to be installed. It looks like it was blocked off to prevent wildlife from getting in.

Here we can get an idea of how thick the pipe was. Those are likely 3-inch red discharge hoses below this piece.

This worker has placed his hand in the middle of the pipe for size comparison.

Here are are the auger bits that will be used to drill the hole for the new sewage pipe.

Another piece of equipment used for drilling the hole for the pipe.

This was a big job that required lots of heavy equipment.

The drilling equipment is being unloaded from the truck and trailer that brought it to the job site.

The directional driller in action.

Pictures of some of the other wildlife we encountered.

A couple of locals checking out what is going on in their neighborhood.

How many gators do you count?

Wonderful job AquaDam!