This project took place in Southeast Texas, where the contractor was tasked with de-watering a wastewater pond one side at a time. After successfully de-watering one side of the pond, the team proceeded to remove toxic sediment from the pond bottom and install a new liner.

Once the workers completed the first side, the AquaDams were drained and then reinstalled on top of the newly installed liner. This allowed for the de-watering of the other side and the removal of toxic sediment. Workers installed an 8ft tall 17ft wide 175ft long single closed end (SCE) AquaDam with a connection collar and an 8ft tall 54ft long SCE AquaDam. The two AquaDams made a line configuration, from bank to bank. The 54ft long SCE AquaDam was attached to the 175ft long dam with the connection collar.

Both AquaDams were filled with water from the pond and the water was drained back into the pond during removal process of the AquaDams.

The 175ft long SCE AquaDam has been completely unrolled and is filling in this photo.

When filling an AquaDam, it is advisable to simultaneously fill both fill-tubes with equal pumping power. To facilitate the turning process, reducing the pumping power to the fill-tube on the inside of the turn is recommended. Additionally, pulling on the ropes attached to the roll end can assist in making a turn more smoothly.

To ensure proper installation and functionality of a SCE 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.

Here we can see the 54ft long SCE AquaDam filling. This AquaDam was connected to the 175ft long unit at the closed end with the connection collar. The closed end is the starting bank for the 54ft long SCE AquaDam and the connection collar secures it in place. The connection collar, visible in the photo, is made of white material.

With the two halves of the pond now separated, workers can begin excavating on the work area side. Any turbidity created by the machinery is trapped behind the AquaDams.

A zoomed in view of the excavator cleaning up the parts of the pond’s bank.

The first 8ft tall SCE AquaDam is getting pretty full. Check out the water depth difference from one side of the AquaDam to the other.

The work area is de-watering very nicely.

Here is a close up view of where the fill-tubes of the 54ft long SCE AquaDam have been pulled through holes in the connection collar. This allows the fill-tubes to remain higher in elevation than the body of the dam.

Here we can see where the closed end of the 54ft long SCE AquaDam met with its ending bank.

Workers needed to add non-abrasive fill to the extend the ending bank.

The 54ft long AquaDam needed to be at least 30ft longer to have met the native bank.

Wonderful job AquaDam!