Offering an alternative to cumbersome sandbags,
Water-Sandwich is a two-part unit that uses water to protect people’s houses from floodwater.
Typically, people use sandbags to block floodwater, but these are too heavy for many people to manoeuvre. They are also difficult to prepare and dispose of after use. Each
Water-Sandwich unit combats floodwater with its two parts – a supporting frame and a bag filled with water. The idea is that an array of filled water bags will press against one another, and against the ground and the doorframe, thus blocking all spaces where floodwater might enter.
The water bags are soft and flexible, and can fit into any doorway with a width of 72cm or more. Each water bag is triangular in shape, and is held erect by the supporting frame, which also protects it from being torn by debris in the floodwater. After the flood, the frame can easily be turned into a handcart for moving the water bag around.
Before the floodwater hits, people should set up the light, empty units side by side in the doorway and pour water into the bags through holes in their upper sections.
Water-Sandwich is functional as long as the water level in each of its units is higher than the water level outside. During the flood, if the level of the floodwater becomes too high, Water-Sandwich will automatically enter a warning mode by sounding an alarm and flashing. After the flood has subsided, the clean water within the water bags can be recycled. This could be very helpful because typhoons sometimes would bring temporary water shortages.
The bag and frame can be easily separated so they can be conveniently stored. Water-Sandwich can be renewed with replacement bags. |
