WaveSave and its portable rubber dam
As sea levels rise and flood risks worsen due to global warming, WaveSave’s easy-to-erect portable dam offers a quick-response tool. People can use the dam to protect themselves and their property, and it can also store freshwater for later use.
SlamDam is a portable flood barrier created by WaveSave, a company based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It is made of rubber and can be quickly installed by unfurling it on the ground along a riverbank or shoreline and then pumping it full of water until it swells into a solid barrier. The dam can reach up to 1.3 meters in height and is designed to protect nearby property or structures from rising floodwaters. SlamDam was first developed in 2013 in the Netherlands and has since been adopted by regional water authorities there. The technology has expanded to Africa and Southeast Asia, with deployments in at least a dozen countries. SlamDam is also being tested in New York City on Governors Island as part of a competition for urban climate adaptations.
SlamDam operates as a temporary flood barrier that can be set up rapidly during early flood warnings. The process involves laying out the rubber dam on the ground, then using a portable water pump to fill it with water. As the dam fills, it expands and hardens into a solid barrier capable of holding back rising floodwaters. The barrier is designed to be reusable, with a lifespan of over 40 years, and can be stored away when not in use. One unique feature of SlamDam is its ability to store water after a flood, which can later be used for irrigation during dry seasons or droughts. This stored water has been used by farmers in regions like Burundi to increase crop production and double their incomes during the dry season.
SlamDam addresses a growing global challenge: flooding. Due to climate change and population growth, nearly 2 billion people are projected to be exposed to floods by 2100, an increase of 300 million from 2020. Traditional flood protection methods, such as building levees or elevating structures, can be expensive and time-consuming. SlamDam offers a cost-effective alternative that can be deployed quickly and only when needed. Its temporary nature and low upfront cost make it particularly suitable for developing countries where permanent flood defenses may not be feasible. Additionally, the stored water inside the dam provides a secondary benefit for agriculture in drought-prone areas.
While SlamDam offers significant advantages, it faces challenges in adoption and affordability. In Kenya, research found difficulties in determining who should own and deploy the dam within communities. Another barrier is the upfront cost, which ranges from €1,000 to €3,000 (about $1,140 to $3,400) per five-meter section. Although this is competitive with other mobile flood barriers, it remains too high for many farmers or small communities. WaveSave is exploring solutions such as offering SlamDam as a service or deploying it on demand to reduce costs. SlamDam also competes with other mobile flood barriers like those made by AquaFence, MegaSecur, and NOAQ Flood Protection, but WaveSave differentiates itself by focusing on rapid emergency deployment in developing countries and its water storage capability.
WaveSave, currently self-financed with seven employees, aims to expand its operations to make SlamDam more accessible. The company plans to open a local production facility in Southeast Asia in early 2027, followed by another in East Africa. This move could lower costs by reducing shipping expenses and supporting local economies. WaveSave has recently secured contracts worth about $5.3 million for new projects in Burundi, Djibouti, and Guinea, with additional opportunities in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The company’s managing director, Omar Saleh, plans to grow organically by reinvesting profits. Future plans include offering new services such as advising communities on rainwater harvesting and irrigation systems to provide a more comprehensive approach to water management in climate-stressed regions.
