The Aqua-Barrier is a versatile water-inflated cofferdam (temporary dam) designed primarily to control and manage water in various settings. It is commonly used in construction sites and flood zones to create dry work areas by damming back water. Here are some key uses and benefits of the Aqua-Barrier:

1. Construction Sites:
• Dry Work Environment: The Aqua-Barrier effectively holds back water, providing a dry environment necessary for construction activities, including excavation, boat ramps, and bridge repairs.
• Time and Cost Efficiency: Unlike traditional sandbag barriers or other temporary dams, the Aqua-Barrier can be quickly deployed and removed, saving both time and labor costs.
• Environmental Protection: By containing sediment and preventing it from entering nearby water bodies, the Aqua-Barrier helps protect aquatic ecosystems.
2. Flood Control:
• Emergency Response: In flood zones, the Aqua-Barrier acts as a temporary barrier, protecting properties and infrastructure from floodwaters.
• Reusable Solution: The barrier can be deployed quickly in emergency situations and stored for future use, making it a cost-effective solution for recurring flood risks.
• Versatility: It can be used in various terrains and conditions, adapting to different flood scenarios and providing customizable protection.
3. Water Diversion:
• Stream and River Diversion: The Aqua-Barrier can divert streams or rivers temporarily, allowing for construction or maintenance work in the watercourse without impacting the natural flow.
• Pipeline Installation: It is also useful in projects involving the installation or maintenance of pipelines, providing a dry work area while maintaining water flow in the surrounding areas.
4. Environmental Remediation:
• Containment of Contaminants: In environmental cleanup projects, the Aqua-Barrier can isolate contaminated water bodies, preventing the spread of pollutants during remediation efforts.

The Aqua-Barrier’s flexibility, ease of use, and effectiveness in water control make it an essential tool for construction, flood management, and environmental protection projects.

Navigating varying worksite conditions can be complex, so while there is no one-size-fits-all answer, we can provide a general guideline: our tallest Aqua-Barrier can control up to 6 feet of water and sediment combined. To ensure optimal performance, each barrier size should maintain a minimum of 25% freeboard (margin above the water).

For personalized assistance or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our experts are here to help you find the perfect solution for your dewatering needs.

No. The Aqua-Barrier stabilization process doesn’t allow for successful stacking. If you are wanting to control water deeper than 6ft, you may be able to create a base to accommodate the freeboard requirements. Contact our knowledgeable sales reps to discuss your options further.

We offer both! Standard rental durations offered are 2 weeks and 30 days – both options revert to a weekly rate. Rentals are only available in the 48 contiguous states. We also sell new and used units. We sell our units worldwide and with an ISO 9001:2015 Certification, you can count on our quality products for your needs anywhere in the globe.

Aqua-Barriers are easy to deploy: simply unroll, place into the desired installation location, and fill the barriers with water.

Smaller Aqua-Barriers can be installed manually by 1-2 people, while larger ones are best installed using a piece of heavy equipment, such as a track hoe or crane, and a 5-person crew. Using the patented end-pipe loops and a piece of heavy machinery, you’re able to maneuver and install the Aqua-Barriers from the shoreline without ever getting into the water. However, you can install the Aqua-Barriers without any heavy equipment; since they are buoyant when empty. Your crew can easily float them into place using waders or a small boat. Once they’re in place, simply pump water into the units until they’re fully inflated. For your installation, we will provide an equipment checklist detailing everything you need for a successful setup. For more information, please refer to the Instruction Manual or contact us.

Each Aqua-Barrier® is conveniently shipped on 4×4 or 4×5 pallet via a commercial truck line. Here is an image showcasing our largest barrier size palletized.

In most cases, yes! The material will hold down to a temperature as cold as -22°F. Anything below that will make the material brittle. Please contact our knowledgeable sales representatives for advice on using the product in extremely cold climates.

No. Each individual unit will straighten out as you start to inflate it so it’s physically impossible to bend the Aqua-Barriers. However, you can overlap individual units at any angle to accommodate your desired configuration shape and length. HSI Services can help you determine what size barriers will work best to obtain your desired configuration shape and size.

Aqua-Barrier is constructed using an engineered vinyl-coated polyester membrane (PVC) with a scrim reinforcement. This advanced material composition distinguishes Aqua-Barrier from competitors who use polyethylene (plastic fabric)

Advantages of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Fabric

Durability: PVC is a rigid and hard material, providing superior durability and long-lasting performance. It can withstand harsh environmental conditions, making it ideal for demanding construction and flooding applications.

Strength: The combination of a vinyl-coated polyester membrane with scrim reinforcement gives Aqua-Barrier added strength, ensuring it can handle high pressures without compromising its integrity.

Reliability: PVC’s robust nature ensures that Aqua-Barrier maintains its structural integrity over time, offering reliable protection and peace of mind in critical situations.

Repairability: Tears in the PVC fabric can be repaired in-field with a vinyl cement glue making the Aqua-Barriers user friendly throughout the project duration. You can patch the material in wet or dry areas and the process only takes a few minutes to complete.

Comparison with Polyethylene

Durability: Unlike polyethylene, which is extremely flexible and malleable, PVC offers unmatched durability, making it less prone to wear and tear.

Application: PVC’s rigidity makes it particularly suited for construction uses, where strength and durability are necessary.

Structural Integrity: PVC barriers are designed to withstand tough conditions, while polyethylene barriers may be more susceptible to damage due to their flexibility.

Repairability: Polyethylene is not necessarily designed to be repairable due to the nature of the material. You may use a heavy duty tape such as duct tape to close up any tears or pinholes incurred in the material but there is very little experience of a leak free installation with polyethylene bladders. For this reason, bladders made of polyethylene are not promoted for rentals as the material is not repairable.

In summary, the use of PVC in Aqua-Barrier provides a durable, strong, and reliable solution, ensuring optimal performance in various challenging environments. This makes Aqua-Barrier a superior choice for those who need a dependable damming system.

Once a minimum of 25% freeboard is achieved, the barrier will be moved into position, and the internal baffle will lock into place. At this point, the Aqua-Barrier will stabilize. Without sufficient freeboard, the barrier may lose stability and even become buoyant. Note that freeboard requirements may increase in the presence of high water velocities (3 feet per second or more), slick soil conditions, or other unexpected hydrostatic conditions.

For new purchases, we offer custom barriers ranging from 2-8 feet in height and any length between 25-105 feet. For rentals, our barriers are available in heights of 2, 4, 6, and 8 feet, with standard lengths of 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet.

Installation time varies according to system size and equipment available. Most installations can be completed within one working day. However, as a reference, it will take 2 hours or less to install 100 linear feet of Aqua-Barrier with the recommended equipment. Contact our knowledgeable sales representatives to gain a better understanding of the hours and equipment recommended for your specific application.

Each Aqua-Barrier comes with multiple 4 inch Female Threaded NPT fill ports. Due to the single chamber design, you’re able to inflate the unit from one or all the ports, whichever fits your site conditions best. HSI Services will provide you with 4-inch PVC elbows to connect to your hose(s) and streamline the filling process. We recommend using a camlock valve to further optimize the inflation process. The recommended pump combination is two 4 inch 8 horsepower pumps for standard installations but this can vary on the site conditions.

Our longest units are 105 feet but you’re able to overlap the ends of individual units to obtain as long a configuration as you’d like so there’s really no limit to how large your setup can be.

Any available water source can be used for inflating the barriers, including brine/salt water. So yes, you can fill the Aqua-Barriers with the same water you’re damming back! Complete instructions can be found in the User’s Manual, shipped with every order and available online for download.

Yes, the PVC material is compatible with non-potable water including greywater and chlorinated water. If you are looking for water storage bladders, we do have a separate product line of Liquid Storage Bladder Tanks which offers non-potable, potable, and food grade tanks in various sizes ranging from 25 gallons of storage up to 250,000 gallons. Contact us today to discuss your water storage needs further!