Tech
WaveSave and its portable rubber dam
Publication: MIT Technology Review
Author: Amy Nordrum
Source published: 06/10/2026, 10:35:00 UTC
Briefing created: 06/10/2026, 11:24:44 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 06/10/2026, 11:20:25 UTC.
Briefings
WaveSave, founded in 2017 in the Netherlands, developed the SlamDam portable rubber dam in 2013 for rapid flood protection. Deployed in at least a dozen countries since 2017, the barrier is installed on riverbanks to shield property and store freshwater for irrigation, offering a low-cost alternative to permanent levees. As of 2026, WaveSave is expanding into Southeast Asia and Africa, with a planned local production facility in Southeast Asia by early 2027. The company recently secured contracts totaling $5.3 million in Burundi, Djibouti, and Guinea, though challenges remain in community adoption and cost accessibility.
Key points
- WaveSave is a Dutch company founded in 2017 that developed the SlamDam portable rubber dam in 2013 for rapid flood protection and freshwater storage.
- The SlamDam is installed on riverbanks to shield property and store water, with a lifespan exceeding 40 years and a cost between €1,000 and €3,000 per five-meter section.
Context and limitations
Evidence covers WaveSave's product deployment, technical specifications, and recent contracts in Africa and Southeast Asia. It does not include data on the company's financial performance beyond the $5.3 million contract value, nor does it contain information on the specific number of employees or the exact timeline for the Southeast Asia production facility.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 06/10/2026, 11:24:44 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeiaktonj4nksmczarxsc4x4fkvp6flpxbe63nojvhkgmbpx7wiulgu