WaveSave Secures $5.3M in Contracts for Portable Flood Barriers

WaveSave has secured contracts worth $5.3 million for its portable flood barrier, SlamDam, in Burundi, Djibouti, and Guinea. The SlamDam, developed in 2013, can reach a maximum height of 1.3 meters and is priced between €1,000 to €3,000 per five-meter section, equating to approximately $1,140 to $3,400. The company, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, currently employs seven people.

The UN reports that 1 in 5 people globally are at high risk of serious floods, with an estimated 2 billion people expected to be exposed to floods by 2100, marking a 300 million increase from 2020 levels. The SlamDam was previously deployed in the Mpanda commune of Burundi during the 2022 flood season, where it reportedly helped farmers double their incomes by providing access to water.

WaveSave is also demoing SlamDam on Governors Island in New York City as part of a competition for urban climate adaptations. Managing director Omar Saleh stated that the company is exploring offering SlamDam as a service, aiming to make flood protection more affordable through on-demand deployment. Additionally, a local production facility for SlamDams is planned to open in Southeast Asia by early 2027, which may enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce costs.

Competitors in the mobile flood barrier market include AquaFence, MegaSecur, and NOAQ Flood Protection, highlighting the growing demand for effective flood mitigation solutions as climate change intensifies flood risks.