Dutch innovative flood barrier enters the USA market
The City of Annapolis will use Tubebarrier, a flexible temporary flood defence barrier developed in the Netherlands, to protect the city and its residents from flooding and water damage.
The United States is increasingly confronted with the impacts of climate change, extreme weather events and rising sea levels, increasing the need for effective water management solutions. The City of Annapolis, located on the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland, is an area particularly vulnerable to flooding. The city experiences both coastal and river flooding, making innovative solutions such as the Tubebarrier essential to protect infrastructure and the safety of residents.
The Tubebarrier is designed to be deployed quickly and efficiently in the event of flooding. This Dutch innovation consists of a flexible tube that automatically fills itself with water to retain water. The system is modular, reusable, and can be set up without electricity or pumps, making it ideal for emergency situations. Thanks to its flexible length and height, the Tubebarrier can be placed on various surfaces to stop water from different heights.
From the Netherlands to the USA
The road to the first sale of the Tubebarrier in America started with several visits by American delegations to Flood Proof Holland, a test and showcase site for semi-full-scale temporary innovative modular and flexible flood defences located at Delft University of Technology in Delft. Here they saw the Tubebarrier in action for the first time and it was demonstrated how the structure could be constructed and removed.
The demonstrations and research at Flood Proof Holland showed how effective and user-friendly the Tubebarrier is, which led to growing interest. Dutch Water Prevention eventually installed a demonstration model in Annapolis, where the Tubebarrier was successfully deployed several times. This resulted in more requests and the eventual acquisition of the Tubebarrier in the region.
Bas Jonkman, professor of Integrated Hydraulic Engineering at Delft University of Technology and also affiliated with Texas A&M University, says: “The first success of the Tubebarrier in the United States is a very nice milestone and also shows the power of joint efforts and cooperation between the Netherlands and the United States. In addition, it clearly shows the added value of a test facility such as Flood Proof Holland.”
