Challenge

The Government of Manitoba through Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation solicited Request for Proposals for the purchase of Rapid Deployment Flood Protection Systems. Many factors were taken into account in the evaluation of various systems such as the product stability, system adaptability, material properties, resource requirements, initial capital cost, set-up costs, salvage/recovery costs, cleaning and overall mobility. A major factor in the evaluation process included lead time/availability. If successful Layfield would be required to provide 600 Aqua Dams®, 200 Starter Aqua Dams®, 80 pumps, 80 suction hoses, and 240 discharge hoses.

 Solution

 Layfield developed a Rapid Deployment trailer which consists of Aqua Dams®, pumps, suction & discharge hoses along with anything you may need to fight flooding. Within a six week timeline Layfield constructed and delivered 40 cargo trailers, 600 Aqua Dams®, 200 Starter Aqua Dams®, 80 pumps, 80 suction hoses, and 240 discharge hoses. In addition to the rapid deployment trailers Layfield also provided 30 days of training and installation assistance to Local Crews to instruct on the proper installation and removal techniques.

 

During this six week timeline Layfield incorporated three of its Canadian locations (Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto) to manufacture, fabricate and assemble the Aqua Dams® and rapid deployment trailers. Utilizing vertical integration, Layfield constructed the polyethylene tubing which is an integral part of the Aqua Dam® structure at the Vancouver facility. The Aqua Dams® were fabricated and the trailers were assembled in Edmonton and Toronto.

 

Results

 

Aqua Dams® were used to protect hundreds of homes, communities, and arterial roadways throughout southern Manitoba. Municipalities were able to request assistance and were provided rapid deployment trailers which contained all the necessary flood fighting tools.

 Aqua Dams® 2.5ft (0.7m) and 3ft (0.9m) in height were used to circle around houses to protect individual homes. These same Aqua Dams® were also placed on the top of earthen ring dikes to provide free board to prevent over topping from rising flood waters and wave action. In addition Aqua Dams® were used along the sides of roads to allow truck traffic access to bring in essential supplies to flood ravaged areas.

 

Aqua Dam® Flood Control 3ft x 100ft can be unrolled to fit the geometry of the area being protected. Aqua Dam® can be installed 10 times faster than a conventional sand bag berm for approximately half the cost. Aqua Dam®'s cost effectiveness and ease of installation make it an ideal solution for rapid deployment flood protection.

 

Throughout the 2011 flood season Aqua Dam® protected heirlooms within family homes and communities by providing an excellent protection from flood waters while keeping roads open to ensure essential supplies can be delivered to those communities cutoff by flood waters.