Embracing Proven Technology for Floods
Simon Crowther
The Flood Guy?| BEng FCIWEM C.WEM | Flood Risk Management & Drainage Specialist | Environment Agency Framework Partner | CEO at The FPS Group? | Forbes 30 Under 30 | Entrepreneur | ?????
My deepest sympathy goes out to those affected by the recent devastating flooding. I know from experience in 2007 how awful it is.
Once again the floods have highlighted the need to embrace proven technology.
We believe the Water-Gate can provide an efficient and effective fast response resource when dealing with e
mergency response situations.
The main advantages of the Water-Gate over sandbags are:
- Proven technology, effective in use and testing.
- Reusable
- Cost-effective
- Quick to deploy
- Easy to deploy
- Small to store/transport
The main issue with sandbags is that they do not perform their primary role well. In Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the 2007 floods he states ‘The Review was unable to obtain any significant evidence that sandbags were particularly effective during the 2007 summer floods in providing protection to individual households.’
Sandbags are only usable once, which means your investment is high per flood.
A common misconception is that sandbags are a cheap cost- effective method of flood defence; however this is not the case. According to Flood PACT (Parishes and communities together) a sandbag flood protection barrier which is 0.6m high requires 50+ filled sandbags per linear metre. Therefore a linear metre of sandbagging costs a staggering ￡200 (with each filled sandbag costing ￡4.00).
It is therefore very disappointing to see sandbags still being used. The Water-Gate is the perfect sandbag alternative.
A much more effective and cost effective method is available in the form of the Water-Gate flood barrier - which is reusable!
The device was praised by the Environment Agency in 2012.
The EA's Neil Clayton endorsed the product, saying: "I was amazed at how easily the Water-Gate rolled out and sealed. Within five minutes we had stopped the flow of water at about 150mm deep from getting onto the road."
If you would like to arrange a meeting to see a demonstration barrier, please message me, contact us by email or by phone on 0115 987 0358.