Our company

Water-Gate water barriers are made of polymer canvas and designed so that water collects inside the pockets. The barriers automatically open as they fill with water.

The concept is simple: The weight of the water keeps the barrier in place, just as air pressure holds a parachute open.

WATER HOLDING BACK WATER

The Water‑Gate flood dam has four times more ground surface than the water being retained, thus four times more vertical thrust (across the ground) than the horizontal thrust for proper adhesion. For the water to hold back the water on most surfaces such as asphalt or grass, a 2½‑to‑1 ratio is usually sufficient for safe installation. The Water‑Gate™ flood dam’s 4‑to‑1 ratio is therefore much safer and the risk of slippage is unlikely. The wider the barrier, the lower the risk of slippage. The Water‑Gate™ flood dam is 33% safer than required.

Modular and self-locking water dams

Steps to follow

1. Water infiltrates and collects inside the barrier.
2. The water pressure helps the barrier unfold competely.
3. The integrated floater allows the top part of the dam to float and absorb the motion of incoming waves.
4. The accumulated water pressure stabilizes the barrier and keeps it in place regardless of the terrain beneath.

No need to pump water inside.

The Water-Gate water barrier was invented by Daniel Dery on January 1, 1998. An industrial designer by training, Daniel is a visionary who is passionate about innovation and industrial design.

The idea came to him on New Year’s Eve. He was sitting in his living room, eyes glued to the television, watching a rundown of the top stories of 1997. One of the year’s biggest headlines was Manitoba’s Red River flood (one of the worst natural disasters in Canadian history). As he watched hundreds of soldiers and civilians filling and stacking an astronomical number of sandbags to block the threatening waters, a light bulb went off. There had to be a better way.

He thought of fastening long plastic tubes together and attaching them to a giant float. The water would flow into the tubes, fill them, and create a flood barrier out of water instead of sand. This would eliminate the need for thousands of sandbags in addition to freeing up valuable time, energy, and resources.

The beginning

Driven by determination and the desire to create a product with the potential to help thousands of people, Daniel made his first prototype that very day. With the vision of his project growing ever clearer, he put together a makeshift model in his kitchen sink. The tests were conclusive enough for him to carry on his work. Given the magnitude of the project, he decided to devote himself entirely to this new challenge, his ultimate goal being to develop water barriers that would be distributed worldwide to combat one of Earth’s most destructive natural disasters—floods.

Needing a name for his invention, Daniel went the simple route and dubbed his work the Water‑Gate water barrier.

1998

• For the first eight years after the founding of MegaSecur, the manufacturing of Water-Gate is outsourced to Mégatex.
• The first river test is a success as far as the notion of water stopping water, but a failure as far as design. Since the tubes are stacked on top of one another, they start sliding around as soon as the barrier approaches full capacity.
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• After a lengthy process of trial and error and major improvements in design, the Water Gate water barrier is fully operational. An official version sees the light of day in September 1998 and is immediately launched on the market.
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• To ensure the barrier stands out, its color is changed from black to yellow.
• A true believer in his product, Daniel Déry makes numerous presentations to municipal authorities and is ultimately rewarded for his efforts.
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2000

• Gold, Grands prix québécois de l’invention 2000 (Montreal, Canada)
• Technological Innovation Award, Salon des technologies environnementales du Québec (Canada)

2001

• Grand Prix of the Institut de design Montréal (Canada)
• Canada Award, Institut de design Montréal (Canada)
• Fire and Emergency Services Award, International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Switzerland)
• Gold, International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Switzerland)
• Industrial Design Award, International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Switzerland)
• After winning numerous international awards, MegaSecur begins receiving commissions from around the world.
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2002

• Gold Medal, Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), 2002 (Virginia, USA)

2004

• A model of the Water-Gate barrier is displayed at the Montreal Science Centre in an exhibition featuring twenty-six Canadian inventors.
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2005

• A vast distributor network is developed and the Water-Gate water barrier is now available all over the world. Installations are set up at the Tokyo airport and in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, England, Australia, the United States, and many other countries.
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2007

• To keep up with the growing demand, Daniel Déry launches Vitex Industry, a subsidiary of MegaSecur, to manufacture Water‑Gate barriers. The name Vitex is a reference to the town of Victoriaville (Vi) and the textile industry (Tex).
• To better serve clients around the world, VitexIndustry and Mégatex double production by joining forces.
• Before long, VitexIndustry parts ways with Mégatex and becomes the sole manufacturer.
• Using cutting-edge equipment and procedures, Vitex Industry oversees the entire manufacturing process, including printing and cutting.
• Always responsive to client feedback, MegaSecur develops rapid‑deployment crates that make it possible to transport the Water‑Gate water barriers over long distances quickly.
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2011

• MegaSecur Europe (the official Water-Gate water barrier distributor in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East) is launched.

2015

• The Water-Gate water barrier is certified by FM Approvals. This certification is obtained in collaboration with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and FM Approvals.
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2016

• With nineteen years of experience, more than 125 miles of barriers sold in thirty‑six countries, and 100 percent customer satisfaction, the easy‑to‑install and always reliable Water‑Gate water barrier now figures in several technical handbooks. Exceptionally eco‑friendly, Water-Gate becomes the number one choice among engineers, contractors, decision-makers, and emergency responders.

2017

• Today, MegaSecurboasts an enviable reputation and is considered an international leader in flexible and self-locking barriers.

OUR MISSION: Offer superior products and services to our clients by providing a simple and environmentally friendly solution for problems associated with flooding, toxic spills and cofferdams. Serve all our markets in a way that ensures sustainable growth and respect for the environment. 

OUR CORPORATE VISION: Be and remain the global leader in environmental security. Our ultimate goal is to actively contribute to the safety and protection of individuals and communities both near and far.

OUR VALUES: At MegaSecur, our top priority is the quality and safety of our products. Our success hinges on client satisfaction—that’s why we’re committed to providing products that meet or even surpass our clients’ needs in terms of durability and efficiency. MegaSecur’s key values include respect, innovation, integrity, and trust.

Sustainable development is at the very heart of our corporate vision. As green companies, MegaSecur and Vitex Industry design all products and operations to have minimal impact on the environment.

Water-Gate barriers are 100 percent recyclable, and we strongly recommend that they be repurposed after their service life (twenty to twenty-five years). Furthermore, during the manufacture of Water-Gate water barriers, all waste and residual materials are donated to a non‑profit organization so that they may be repurposed.