Protecting structures with WaterBags™

Protecting structures

Although each house is a unique situation, the following method is used for protection of buildings and other structures near creeks or lakes and in similar situations where water is rising with little or no current.

Lay plastic sheeting on the ground and up the building walls to a point at least one foot above the predicted water elevation, and far enough out on the ground to form a half pyramid of WaterBags™ (see Figures 2 & 3). Secure plywood over doors and vents. Overlap plastic sheeting and WaterBags™ at corners of buildings.

Diverting water away from homes

Homes may often be protected from floodwater by redirecting the water flow as shown in Figure 4. The barriers will divert the water flow away from the structure. The WaterBags™ must be placed at an angle and must be long enough to divert the flowing water towards the street gutter.

  Protection of slopes

The "raincoat" method is used to prevent further saturation of levee or hillside slopes (see Figure 5). Plastic sheeting is laid out flat on the slope, and stakes are driven into the ground just above the area to be protected. The stakes are four feet apart with a one-foot stagger. The plastic sheeting is secured to the stakes with Waterbags™ or small round rocks and rope.

Use a crisscross method of tying off the WaterBags™ or substitute tires if WaterBags™ are not available. Place a solid row of WaterBags™ on all edges of the plastic sheeting (half on the ground and half on the plastic sheeting).

To inflate:  Simply submerge the WaterBag in water.  Bag will expand to approximately 34 lbs. in 3 to 5 minutes! Alternatively, the WaterBag may be inflated by running water via a hose etc.  Simply lay the bags out where you want them to be used, and run water on them for 3-5 minutes.  Right before your eyes, your ‘automatic’ barrier wall will be constructed!  No other product like this exists…

WaterBags™ are easy to Use

The Water BagsÔ are constructed of strong, porous polypropylene plastic or burlap and, when filled, withstand the forces of floodwaters. A small amount of polymer is added to the bag. When the bag is filled with water, the polymer is activated into a heavy gel. This gel stabilizes the water inside the WaterBag and gives it strength to form a barrier, as the bags are stacked at the dike site.

WaterBags™ are Reusable:

WaterBags could be reusable and is environmentally safe.  Natural drying of the WaterBagÔ:  The WaterBag™ will shrink about 30-50% of its fully expanded size, and can be USED AGAIN. Or may be shredded and then the ingredients distributed:

WaterBag™ construction

The use of WaterBags™ is a simple but effective method of preventing or reducing damage from flood water or debris (see Figure 8).

Suggestions for constructing WaterBags™ follow:

·         Close-weave burlap bags are recommended for all WaterBag™ construction.

·         Fold over the empty top of the bag in a triangle to keep sand from leaking.

·         Place each bag over the folded top of the preceding bag and stomp into place before placing the next layer of bags.

·         Stagger the second layer of bags, stomping each bag into place before placing the next.

·         Stomp each succeeding layer of bags.

Materials required for
100 lineal feet of WaterBag™ wall

Height above ground

Bags required

Cubic yards of sand

1 foot

600-800

10 to 13

2 feet

1400-2000

23 to 33

3 feet

2200-3400

37 to 57

4 feet

5300

88

5 feet

7600

137

6 feet

10000

167