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Report 4 of 5: Water Cigars
- Greece
Introduction
Traditionally, the bulk transfer of potable water around the world has been in tankers. However, in conjunction with research carried out by two British University research teams, the concept of using polyurethane bags to transport potable water was pioneered in the 1980s. Recognising the historic, current and anticipated world shortage of water, Aquarius was set up in 1992 to develop a low cost and environmentally friendly system of transporting potable water in bulk using flexible polyurethane bags.
The Manufacturing of Water Bags
The Water Bags are manufactured in Southampton, England. They are computer designed and cut using an American fabric which has an approved European specification. The Water Bags are welded together and then transported around the world by container. They are tested by independent and governmental laboratories and have been authorised to carry potable water. Once in operation, the Water Bags are inflated regularly for maintenance checks.
Currently, Aquarius operate with two sizes of flexible polyurethane bags - 720 and 2000 cubic metres. The 720 cubic metre water bag takes about 6 hours to fill, whereas the 2000 cubic metre bag which can carry two million litres of water, takes about 15 hours to fill. The bags are sometimes called "Water Cigars" because of the shape they make when they are at sea. Only 5 per cent of the bag is visible above the water and 95 per cent is under the water, creating an iceberg effect.
The Aquarius System of Potable Water Transportation
Aquarius Water Bags take the place of tankers in the bulk transfer of potable water by sea or river over short to medium distances. Since 1997, Aquarius has been delivering potable water in bulk to the Greek Islands using polyurethane Water Bags with fully equipped installation tanks and storage facilities. Tugs or large fishing boats are used to tow the Water Bags to their destination but they are not required during filling and discharging. Flexible pipes link the Water Bags to the main water supply on the shoreline. In terms of delivering water, the advantage of the Water Bags is that unlike tankers that have to wait until the water tank is empty before the vessel can start discharging they can be moored and then gradually pumped as the water reservoir becomes empty.
Water Bag Characteristics
- Flexible sea-going bags designed for the bulk transfer of potable water
- Low cost sea transportation
- Storage solutions for high seasonal demand
- Environmentally friendly - pollution free
- Coatings compatible with drinking water
- 720 metric tons and 2000 metric tons polyurethane bags
- Simply loading and discharge procedures even in shallow water
- Multiple bag tows
- Easily deployed
- Easily transportable by sea or air
- Transfer of water between tankers, industrial units and water treatment plants
- Distribution system/storage for desalinated water
- Approved by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) USA
- BS 7750, BS 6920 and ISO 14000 compliant
N.B. The Patent relating to the design and use of the water bags has been registered in various parts of the world under "Flexible Vessels for Transporting Fluent Cargoes".
For further information, please contact:
Intermediate Technology would like to acknowledge Aquarius Holdings Limited, in particular Jean Claude Chalmet, for providing the original material and photographs on the Water Bags.
This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the DFID.
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