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Last week was not the best. We had a storm that dumped a lot of water in a short time, with some of it coming into my home. We finally have all of the rugs dry and the mud off the floor, from the 3 inches of water that flowed throughout the downstairs floor.
Most of the problems arose when the water
made it to the doorsills. It didn't come in over the sills, but under them.
Needless to say, I didn't have a ready supply of sandbags or sand to hand, for some inexplicably bizarre reason.
The idea, simply, is for an elongated "sandbag" that is made of a waterproof sheet, with a layer of sand about an inch thick sewn into one side of the bag and a one-way hose fitting on the end.
Then, when it starts to flood, just roll it out (various lengths available) hook the hose up to it and turn it on. Fat sandbag (say 15in diameter), too heavy to float, full of water. Lay another on top of the first, rinse and repeat to build up a low levee
To empty, just hook the hose back up and let them drain out.
Patent for a levee repair water bag
http://www.freepate...ne.com/4362433.html
[DrCurry, Feb 19 2008]
Water sandbags actually on the market
http://www.wwtsasia.com/sandbags.htm
"Beware of Imitation, Poor Quality Products Coming from China!"
This one appears to inflate itself, sucking up flood water into its water-absorbing contents. [DrCurry, Feb 19 2008]
Flood Bags
http://www.ifdp.co....ducts/sandbags.html
[xenzag, Feb 22 2008]
Flood Tube
http://www.wippsyst..._15ECFQ5rMAod5gLFZw
different method, but interesting [xenzag, Feb 22 2008]
[link]
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I'm pretty sure this is more or less what fire crews use to form makeshift barriers in cases of spillages - they just stack ordinary fire hoses and fill them with water. |
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Perhaps the idea might work, but it gave me another idea: Tape newspaper across the doorway and then spray expanding foam onto it. |
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Thank you. The kids helped out immensely, baling water out over the doorsills for three hours, alongside us. |
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I'm going to bog up under the doorsills with a shitload of silicone sealant. Project for the coming weekend, now that my right index finger has started to heal after I tried to sever it with a linoleum knife on the weekend, building a guinea pig habitat from plastic soft drink and juice bottles and some cable ties. |
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Maybe old coffee grounds for one part in ten of the sand fill - at least then if the flood does come in, the muddy cleanup will smell nicer. |
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(I live near [UB] and had what looked like Victoria Falls thundering into my property from the hill above - only saved the house from flooding by demolishing one of my own retaining walls and diverting the flow. You've gotta love Australia - five years of no rain at all then five years worth in two weeks!) |
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//trying to sever it with a linoleum knife// |
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And you failed? Not like you to fall short of your goals, [UB]...
...Oh! <dawns on me that you weren't *trying* to cut your finger off> Ouch! |
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Sounds like a bad week. I hope next week is better. |
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Would these sand/water bags stack? I guess they would in a pyramid, but that takes more bags. I think the top layer of water would make them tippy if stacked in a single layer wall. |
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Better to put the barrier outside the door so the tendency is to seal. Expanding foam is a huge mess, initially water soluble and actually takes quite a while to expand. I would recommend trying a 50/50 blend of sand and packing peanuts. or what about a bag of flour/cornstarch/water? For doorways we place a sheet of mylar outside so it is half on the door half on the walk, fill sand at the sill, fold the edges and tack the ends up to the door to form a custom sandbag. It's hard to get one layer of sandbags to seal but this works in one layer and gives you some time to get a better barrier. I guess a tarp or canvas sheet could be used the same way. |
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Sorry to hear about the flood damage! |
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Good idea, especially if it comes with a hand-operated pump to fill them. |
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so sorry about the flooding UB. Seems a shame- Re: this idea- to add more water to a waterlogged town after the flood. What if there was a sponge action, using the rain water that wants to come in, soaks into the sand and becomes a heavy seal. Then it would air dry over time or be squeezed out, I guess. |
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Ditto, I'd personally find some very thirsty hounds to do the mopping up. However, your idea sounds and seems more efficient. |
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Hey great link DC, "so easy a monkey could do it!" Now if that isn't a selling point I don't know what is... |
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I think I'd like something a little faster than link[2], even if my pet monkey could... waitasecond, I don't have a pet monkey! Could a kid do it instead? |
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"It's so easy a monkey or child could do it!" |
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Ah, that's better. I just read [DC]'s link. They usually go to subscriber-only news sites. That seems like a good idea. I was concerned with making the material absorptive, as it would probably float, hence the sand in this idea. |
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UB: FYI, the Wall Street Journal got bought by Murdoch, who favors ads over subscriptions, and the NY Times has also become much less possessive, so I think you will find both sites easier to access in future. |
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The epilogue took place today. We routed the overland flow water that comes across our property into a channel last weekend, directing it into a stormwater drain. |
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Today the local councillor came out along with the city's chief hydraulic engineer. The upshot? They claim the drain is adequate, so they'll take no action to mitigate future flooding. |
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I'm now planning a campaign of targetted civil disobedience. |
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Targetted around bringing the areas of your foot to your councillors ass? |
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Have the storm-drain adequately diverted into the counsellor's kitchen, that ought to help matters along. |
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UB: digging a trench leading to the storm drain, maybe. And not particularly caring if it cuts acros a road or two. Though maybe the "adequacy" thing is to avoid lawsuits arising from the current setup? |
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What about a moat and a drawbridge? |
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Oh, it's OK. She's seeking re-election on March 15. It would be a simple matter to blanket bomb the entire electoral ward with flyers designed to create the impression an uncaring, self-interested leech on the arse of our society. |
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