Water Barrier and Erosion Mitigation System

Abstract

The system utilizes a bag containing hydrophilic dry material such as powered polymer. The bag is initially light in weight. When the hydrophilic material is exposed to water it absorbs water and expands to inflate the bag. By taking on the weight of the absorbed, the bag of the invention can replace the function of a conventional sand bag. Unlike a conventional sand bag, the bag of the invention has provision for causing the bags before and after inflation to interlock which strengthens the resulting protective wall. Part of the interlocking effect is created by the incorporation of ballast modules at least two corners of the bag which interlock with pockets on diagonal corners of adjacent bags. In addition to ballast modules, the bag may contain seed modules or pockets which release seeds to vegetate and hold soil on slopes.

1 . The Water barrier bag, comprising:
 a bag containing dry material which swells upon hydration to substantially fill the bag,   said bag having at least one pouch containing ballast, and   said bag having at least one recess sized to receive a pouch containing ballast on a stacked bag to interlock adjacent bags.   
     
     
         2 . The water barrier bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said bag is formed of water permeable materials.   
     
     
         3 . The water barrier bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one pouch contains plant seed which can sprout through the material of the bag to stabilize the soil of a slope on which said bag is positioned.   
     
     
         4 . The water barrier bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said bag is comprised of bio-degradable materials.   
     
     
         5 . The water barrier bag of  claim 1  wherein:
 said bag is comprised of photo-degradable materials. 
 
     
     
         6 . The water barrier bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 Said dry material is in the form of particles of hydroscopic material.   
     
     
         7 . The water barrier bag of  claim 6  wherein,
 said bag has an outer layer of open mesh fabric, and an inner, water-soluble membrane what prevents the release of fine particles of hydrophilic material through the open mesh until water dissolves the membrane.