1. DamitDams™ portable Cofferdams are made of a heavy-duty geotextile woven polypropylene outer casing that contains two side-by-side inner tubes. The inner dual tubes act as a stabilizer to keep the Dam from rolling due to outside water pressure and other forces.
2. Based on the depth of water you need to control, DamitDams™ come in eight different heights: 1-2-3-4-6-8-10 and 12 feet.
3. Important note: The Dam needs to be 25% higher (above board) than the depth of the water you are controlling. Example: 4 feet of water will require a 6 ft. high dam.
4. Onsite water is pumped - AT THE SAME RATE - into the two fill tubes.
5. As the water enters both inner tube chambers, the DamitDam™ slowly and evenly inflates creating a strong, stable cylindrical tube.
6. As the inner tubes fill and the water pressure builds, the DamitDam™ un-rolls in a controlled manner creating a "barrier dam" so you are able to begin your water project.
7. The dam can be small or large and molds perfectly to the lakebed, riverbed or waterbed.
8. A DamitDam™ can be extended to any length necessary. Using the extension coupling system, individual dams are easily linked together creating a watertight chained barrier. Extremely durable, once inflated you will be able to walk on the DamitDam™ easily when adding on extensions.
9. The dam is flexible and easy to install, steer or turn precisely where you need it.
10. Once the DamitDams™ is properly placed and filled to specifications - you can begin your project by pumping water from the side that needs to be dewatered. After you have completed your water project, simply deflate your DamitDam™ and it can be easily stored for future use.
PREP
PREPARATION: "Have you been in the water yet?"
It is imperative that you know the surface soil conditions at your site to ensure that you have the right size cofferdam. The reason is, due to the increased pressure of the cofferdam, surface soil settlement may affect the dam size you will require.
CHECK THE FOLLOWING:
Water depth: (You will need to know the deepest water-depth level)
Soil composition (soft bottom, muck etc.)
Determine water movement: Still, standing, or moving.
CHECK THE BOTTOM: You will need to make sure there are no surprises under the water surface that could hinder a successful deployment. Examples: Large boulders, metal poles, wood posts, rebar, glass, sunken tree limbs, old shopping carts, cars, Jimmy Hoffa ... etc.
SIZE MATTERS: Determine the height before you begin.
DamitDams™ come in eight
heights: 1-2-3-4-6-8-10 and 12 feet.
Small DamitDam™ .....1-4 ft. in height
Large DamitDam™ .....6-12 ft.
in height A custom designed DamitDam™ can be inner-locked together to accommodate any length needed.
The size of the DamitDam™ required per project depends on the following criteria:
1. Depth of the water: Measure the deepest point.
2. Velocity of the water: Still or moving? Moving how fast?
3. Terrain
4. Surface Soil condition: How deep is your muck?
DO THE MATH:
1. The DamitDam™ must be 25% higher than the surface (free board) of the water
you are controlling. Example: 6' of water requires an 8' Dam
2. When fully filled, the DamitDam™ will be about 2.5 times wider than it is high. For
example, an 8 foot dam will be about 20 feet wide.
EQUIPMENT
INSTALLATION OVERVIEW:
1. SIZE & NUMBER OF PUMPS: Two matching 3 inch 8 horsepower trash pumps at a minimum are recommended.
If smaller or larger pumps are used, discuss with representative prior to installation.
2. SIZE & LENGTH OF DISCHARGE & SUCTION HOSES:
50 linear feet of discharge hose per pump.
20 linear feet of suction hose per pump.
Pumps must be equal in flow rate capability!
3. HEAVY EQUIPMENT will be needed to place a large dam at the waters edge.
Once the dam is placed into the water it becomes buoyant. If moving water is
present, ropes will be needed to restrain the dam as it is being deployed.
A DamitDams™ Portable Cofferdam representative will provide further details when
the installation involves moving water.
4. AND THE REST:
Lifting Arm Equipment
Utility knife
Duct Tape
Plywood Sheets (platform for pumps if Dam needs to be extended)
Workers should have water appropriate clothing so waders are recommended.
A sense of humor !!
MANPOWER
The number of laborers required to install your DamitDams™ will depend on the following:
Size of the DamitDams™
? Water condition
? One worker to consistently man the pumps
? Urgency of the project
? Experience of laborers working in water conditions
Small Dam:
1 - 4ft
2-3 laborers
Medium Dam:
4 - 8ft
3-4 laborers
Large Dam:
10- 12ft
4-5 laborers
CONTRACTING WITH A DamitDams™ INSTALLATION TEAM WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
JOB SITE
ARRIVAL: Large Dam and Small Dam
1. Your DamitDam™ will arrive to your job site ready for deployment.
2. Do not attempt to roll the Dam off the truck or place the forks under the Dam.
This may damage the Dam and make it unusable.
3. A smaller Dam can be hand lifted and carried to the site by laborers.
4. A larger dam will require heavy equipment to transport the Dam from the truck
to the site area starting point.
PLACEMENT: Lake/River
1. A DamitDam™ can be set up on most water edge surfaces - such as gravel, mud,
grass, etc.
2. The starting point of the dam is placed on the bank - at least 5 ft. up on shore - with the Dam opening facing away from the water.
3. The positioning of the DamitDams™ opening needs to be raised to a higher point than the estimated height of a fully-filled DamitDam™. This will keep the water from back-flowing.
4. In some cases a berm may need to be built to meet this requirement.
5. To secure the Dam - simply tie ropes to the start of the Dam and then tie/secure the other end of the rope to heavy equipment, trees and or any other unmovable object in the nearby vicinity.
INFLATING DIRECTIONS ... "Easy Does it"
1. Place the DamitDam™ in the water at the edge at a right angle to the bank.
2. Place a pump discharge hose into each inner fill tube.
3. Using on-site water to fill the dam - begin pumping. It is imperative that the 2 water pumps fill at the same rate.
4. As the water pressure builds - the Dam will start a controlled rollout.
5. Laborers can guide the DamitDam™ into any configuration your site requires; straight as an arrow, curved, U-shaped, L-shaped etc.
6. Cautionary Note 1: Take care to monitor the filling process to ensure that the Dam
is not OVER filled.
7. Cautionary Note 2: The Dam is not stable until filled to the recommended height.
LINKING
TO LENGTHEN AND LINK DamitDams™
Using DamitDams™ patented extension-coupling system; Dams can easily be linked together to form a custom length, continuous water-filled barrier/dam. "It could circle the globe if need be."
Each DamitDam™ is designed to seamlessly link together by drawing the patented extension-cuffing sleeve over the end of a previously filled cofferdam.
Fill tubes are drawn up from the previously filled Dam through openings in the extension cuffing systems.
Simply repeat the previous pumping procedure and your Dam can be extended to any length needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Following the environmental guidelines set forth by The Clean Water Act, DamitDams™ has developed an environmentally friendly method to manage water and protect the environment.
"We work with Mother Nature - not against her."
12263 Center Road, Fenton, MI 48430 | Phone 248-755-7383 | Fax 810-714-4353 | 2009 Dam-It Dams
