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WATER-GATE BARRIER
Water judo
Like a judo fighter, this innovation turns water's
own power against it, to prevent further damage.
Heavyweight contenders
With recent climate change, we are seeing more frequent
floods, many of them causing extensive destruction. The
sandbags usually used to block the advancing water are
not terribly practical, though: they're heavy, and it
takes a long time to stack them in place.
Getting a good hold
An average Water-Gate barrier (about 53 cm high by 9.1
m long) is equivalent to more than 450 sandbags, but weighs
only about 20 kg. Made from PVC, an ultra-light plastic
material, it can be carried on one's back!
Water flows into the pockets, erecting the dam. Before
it is completely deployed, the barrier is anchored to
prevent it from being swept away. Once it is full of water,
the barrier is four times as long as it is high, and its
own weight holds it firmly in place.
The competition is all wet!
The Water-Gate took first prize in the Grands prix
québécois de l'invention 2000 in the
"Energy and environment" category. The Quebec Environment
Department has even officially recommended that it be
used to block water for different engineering projects.
The barrier can also contain toxic spills, and has been
used as a reservoir in fighting forest fires.
Thanks!
The ©Water-Gate barrier is on loan from MegaSecur
inc.
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