What’s it made of?
DuraWattle is a synthetic wattle/berm comprised of an outer layer of monofilament filter fabric and a plastic sealed inner foam core.
The core is made from flexible polyurethane sealed in polyethylene film.
The fabric and foam are extremely flexible and can bend to fit the contour of almost any work area.
How does DuraWattle maintain its shape after being driven over by heavy traffic?
Unlike traditional wattles, the inner core of DuraWattle is non-permeable and does not take on water.
The foam core gives the barrier its height and helps maintain its shape after being driven over by heavy traffic.
How does it filter sediment laden water?
The outer layer of monofilament fabric filters the sediment laden water as it passes through the base of the wattle above the “tail section”.
The estimated clean water flow through rate is 100gpm/ft2.
DuraWattle is designed to dewater and retain sediment while dissipating concentrated flow into more manageable sheet flow.
What applications has it been used in?
DuraWattle has been used in the following applications:
- Perimeter control
- Site access points (ingress/egress points)
- Stockpile management
- Drain inlet protection
What are the primary benefits?
Durability – DuraWattle is designed to fully rebound when driven over by heavy machinery without a change in its overall effectiveness.
Versatility – From perimeter control to augmenting in-grate filtration systems, DuraWattle is a versatile tool for innovating on any job site. It is an effective BMP when installed on soil, curb, or hard surface applications.
Reusability – Customers have reported 70-90% of DuraWattle being removed and reused on other sites or projects.
More specific benefits and information:
How is it secured without weights?
The tail section (or apron) is an extra 14in section of monofilament filter fabric that is used to secure the product to the ground and combat undermining.
In soil or curbside applications, this tail section is trenched into the ground, nailed every foot, and then backfilled.
In hard surface applications (such as asphalt), the tail is folded over itself, a wooden plank/steel beam is placed over the tail and secured using concrete fasteners. See our Installation page for more details.
How do the sections of DuraWattle connect?
At one end of each DuraWattle there is an extra eighteen-inch fabric sleeve that extends past the inner foam core.
This design allows sections of DuraWattle to be connected together, end to end, and form a secure continuous barrier around any work area.
What are its limitations?
While DuraWattle is designed to withstand heavy traffic, it is recommended to only drive vehicles directly over the product. If a vehicle stops with its wheels on top of the installed DuraWattle and turns before driving over it, then the product will be torn by the wheels. Also, if a vehicle drives parallel to the installed DuraWattle with tires on the product, then the product can be damaged.
According to our customers, an average of 70 – 90% of DuraWattle can be reused after a job with minimal replacements. However, we have had some customers report more replacements are needed when building basements in new home developments. Other customers have also mentioned that when the site has only one access point, the DuraWattle installed at this point will need more frequent maintenance. These atypical results are due to the extremely high frequency of heavy equipment driving over the DuraWattle in a concentrated area.
DuraWattle is not designed to absorb/filter hydrocarbons or dissolved metals. Any application that requires absorbing hydrocarbons or filtering dissolved metals will require additional BMPs to help augment the DuraWattle.
We do not recommend installing DuraWattle as the sole perimeter sediment retention device on sloped job sites with a single low point where runoff can flow to. The products low profile can be overtaken when high flow sediment laden water collects at the single low point during heavy rain events. If DuraWattle is installed at a single low point, then additional BMPs may need to be implemented to increase the holding capacity behind the product and prevent failure.