In every toxic spill situations, an emergency spill response is quickly needed to prevent damages. Indeed, usually the result of an accident, a toxic spill occurs when a hazardous substance is released in an area where contamination may be harmful to the environment and the public.
When an accidental spill occurs (hydrocarbons, oil or other hazardous material), it is very important for first responders to delineate a safety perimeter with adequate conditions for emergency responders to contain, quickly extract and clean up the pollutant. Depending on the nature of the spilled material, the surface can produce potentially hazardous vapors, including some flammable vapors. This is why first responders should never assume that because a spill has been contained, there are no more dangers.
Toxic spills generally fall into two (2) separate categories:
Regardless of the nature of the spill, it is always safer to contact the emergency spill response specialists. They have the specialized protective equipment to handle this kind of intervention.
Different emergency spill response methods are available on the market to contain a spill. That said, the ease and speed of installation of the Water-Gate™ system make it the best tool for this type of application. It can contain and confine water in a river, creek or ditch, or in any other environment.
Depending on the location and the environment where the incident occurs, getting the emergency spill response services where they need to be can be very difficult. What’s more, since incidents usually do not occur just in the immediate area but in other difficult-to-access areas with a high potential for contamination, it is important for first responders to be equipped with emergency equipment that is lightweight, compact, portable, efficient, powerful, and most importantly, very quick to deploy. Remember, time is a critical factor in every hazmat spill situation.
According to a study carried out by TransCanada as part of the Energy East Pipeline Project (Quebec Section), the total cost of a 3493m3 oil spill in the Etchemin River would be approximately $619M (CAN$).
The study conducted in 2016 focused on the impact and cost of an oil spill based on three main factors: emergency response (mobilization of various teams at the site, selecting the emergency response tactics), extraction of pollutants (containment, extraction, riverbank clean-up, waste management, wildlife control, etc.) as well as damages to third parties (contamination of a home water system, loss of business, property damage and potential fines). See the full article for more details (in French only).
The Water-Gate emergency spill response equipment is an innovative emergency system. Its waterproof effectiveness and stability come from the vertical thrust putting pressure on the bottom of the gate.
Did you know? In Canada, specialized equipment such as containment booms, oil collectors, and other emergency response equipment may be stored in certain Response Centres or sub-depots. Find out more at http://www.ecrc-simec.ca/fr/a-propos/simec/
In urban environments, the Water-Gate flood protection dam is very suitable with underground garages, homes, government buildings, malls or other types of protection. Its lightweight eases very much emergency interventions in rural or hard-to-reach areas.
On average, the time required to install a medium-sized barrier is less than five (5) minutes. Considering the time and effort it takes to install sandbags and other systems our system is much more practical and effective. It deploys with the incoming water and does not completely limit the traffic to the protected area.
MegaSecur™ has designed portable cofferdams that can be used to dry or divert watercourses and ponds. Compared with other systems, the Water-Gate™ WA Series is faster to install/dismantle and less prone to punctures. The barrier remains stable and secure even when there are water overflows. The Water-Gate™ WA Series can be deployed in mere minutes and requires no additional hardware for installation or dismantling, reducing the risk of contamination from mechanical parts (grease, oil, concrete, fuel, etc.).
With Water-Gate™ WA Series barriers, the cofferdam can be installed without harming the environment. Once the work is done, the water resumes its natural flow, and the site is left intact and in its natural state.
The Water-Gate barriers can perfectly be joined together, which essentially allows for connecting together different models and sizes.
In order to conform with different budgets, MegaSecur has developed several models with different retention height and length. All the barriers are customizable according to the client’s needs.
The Water-Gate barrier molds itself to the shape of the terrain, thus making possible interventions in rocky soil or uneven surfaces.
The Water-Gate barrier is a turnkey solution, ready to be used from its delivery. No water filling, no air inflation or anchoring is required. Simply unroll the barrier, unfold the front side and let the water accumulates inside.
After using the barrier, simply rinse it with a pressure washer and a suitable disinfectant. Once the barrier is completely dry, simply fold it back and place it back in its storage bag or deployment crate for future use. Avoid long-term exposure to UV rays.
The Water-Gate barrier is flexible enough to create inner or external corners and most type of configurations. In addition, once deployed, the barriers will not lock you in and the set-up will not prevent crossing over. Walkers and motorists can move freely in both directions, whether it is before, during or after the barrier is deployed.
“Trying to get sandbags to the stream would have been next to impossible and I am confident it would have taken at least 3 to 4 hours to construct...
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