Lakeside Seawall Series – 2. Protecting Wildlife

Admin November 20, 2023

Lakeside properties are an embodiment of serene coexistence with nature. The shimmering waters, lush vegetation, and abundant wildlife create a harmonious ecosystem that captivates the senses. Lakeside property owners and visitors are privileged to share this environment with a diverse array of creatures, from graceful waterfowl to playful otters.

In this tranquil setting, lakeside property managers and developers have a responsibility to safeguard the natural world that surrounds them. The use of NSF-approved polymers in seawall repair contributes to the protection of lakeside wildlife, ensuring their continued presence and well-being.

The Lakeside Ecosystem: A Delicate Balance

Lakeshores are dynamic ecosystems where land and water meet, fostering a rich biodiversity. Herons gracefully wade through the shallows, turtles bask on sunlit rocks, and fish dart beneath the surface. For lakeside property owners, this vibrant ecosystem is an integral part of the charm of their surroundings.

However, the repair of seawalls can pose a threat to this delicate balance. Traditional repair materials may release harmful chemicals into the water, disrupting the aquatic environment and endangering the wildlife that calls the lake home. This is where NSF-approved polymers come into play.

Understanding NSF Approval

The National Sanitation Foundation is a respected authority in the world of public health standards and certification programs. Among its certifications are standards for materials that come into contact with drinking water. But why is this relevant to seawall repair? The answer lies in the connection between seawalls and the lake ecosystem. The seawall being repaired is in direct contact with the lake water.

The Importance of NSF Approval

NSF approval signifies that a material has met rigorous standards for safety and compatibility with drinking water. Here are some key reasons why NSF approval is essential for lakeside property managers and developers:

Water Quality Assurance: NSF-approved polymers undergo extensive testing to ensure they do not release harmful substances into the water. This assurance is vital for maintaining the pristine quality of the lake.
Wildlife Protection: By choosing NSF-approved materials, property managers actively contribute to the protection of lakeside wildlife. These materials do not pose a threat to aquatic life, allowing the ecosystem to thrive.
Long-Term Sustainability: Lakeside properties often emphasize sustainability and environmental responsibility. Using NSF-approved polymers aligns with these values, demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of the lake and its inhabitants.
Public Perception: Lakeside property owners and visitors appreciate environmentally conscious practices. Choosing NSF-approved materials can enhance the reputation of the property and attract eco-conscious residents and guests.

A Pledge to Protect

In the world of lakeside property management and development, the protection of the natural environment is a shared responsibility. The use of NSF-approved polymers in seawall repair is not merely a practical choice; it’s a pledge to safeguard the delicate balance of the lakeside ecosystem.

By selecting these materials, lakeside property managers and developers send a clear message: they value the well-being of the lake and its inhabitants. This commitment ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty and diversity of lakeside life, fostering a legacy of responsible stewardship.

Sustainability Series – 4. The Green Seawall

Admin October 16, 2023

In an era where sustainability is more than a buzzword, it’s a business imperative, waterfront property owners and managers find themselves at the intersection of environmental responsibility and asset management. Seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments are not just physical barriers against the forces of nature; they are also opportunities to implement sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the bottom line. This article explores the avenues for incorporating sustainability into seawall maintenance and repair, making the case that going green is not just an ethical choice but also a financially sound decision.

Sustainable Materials and Methods for Seawall Maintenance and Repair

Eco-Friendly Construction Materials

Traditional construction materials like concrete and steel have significant environmental impacts, from the energy-intensive production processes to the emissions associated with their manufacture. Eco-friendly alternatives such as recycled plastic lumber or fiber-reinforced composites offer a more sustainable choice. These materials are not only durable but also require less energy to produce, reducing the overall carbon footprint of your seawall.

NSF Approved Repair Material

When selecting a contractor for seawall repair, it’s crucial to ensure they use materials that meet NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards. These standards, developed by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), are designed to safeguard public health, particularly concerning drinking water. NSF is a third-party certification organization that conducts rigorous testing on products that come into contact with drinking water. Their certification process also includes thorough inspections of the manufacturer’s plant and quality assurance practices.

Compliance with NSF standards is not just a matter of meeting regulatory requirements; it’s also about public health. The Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) empowers the EPA to impose penalties on industries that fail to comply, including those whose activities contaminate drinking water. Using NSF-approved materials ensures that your seawall repair project won’t become a source of drinking water contamination, aligning with both legal requirements and sustainable practices.

Low-Impact Installation Techniques

The methods used to install or repair a seawall can also have environmental implications. Traditional techniques often involve heavy machinery that can disrupt local ecosystems. Low-impact installation methods, such as hydraulic jacking or vibration-free sheet piling, minimize ecological disturbance while still ensuring a robust and durable structure.

Natural Seawall Solutions

In some cases, natural solutions like living shorelines can serve as effective, sustainable alternatives to traditional seawalls. These systems use native vegetation and organic materials to stabilize the shoreline, providing erosion control while also enhancing local biodiversity.

Sustainable Maintenance Practices

Even routine maintenance activities can be made more sustainable. For example, using non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning agents for surface treatments can reduce environmental harm. Similarly, opting for electric or hybrid equipment for inspections and minor repairs can cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.

Long-Term Benefits and Potential Cost Savings of Sustainable Practices

Durability and Longevity

Sustainable materials often come with the added benefit of increased durability. For instance, polymer repair materials are generally more resistant to corrosion, reducing the need for frequent repairs and thereby lowering long-term maintenance costs.

Energy Savings

Sustainable seawall solutions can also contribute to energy savings. Natural seawalls, with their vegetation and organic materials, act as carbon sinks, capturing and storing carbon dioxide. Moreover, the use of energy-efficient equipment for maintenance activities can result in significant energy cost reductions over time.

Regulatory Incentives

Many jurisdictions offer financial incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as tax credits, grants, or reduced permit fees. Taking advantage of these incentives can offset the initial costs of implementing sustainable seawall solutions.

Enhanced Property Value

A sustainably managed seawall can significantly enhance the value of a waterfront property. As sustainability becomes a key consideration for investors and tenants alike, properties that can demonstrate environmental responsibility hold a competitive edge in the market.

Risk Mitigation

Sustainable practices often align with risk mitigation strategies. For example, a living shoreline not only serves as a sustainable seawall alternative but also enhances the property’s resilience to climate change by providing natural flood buffers.

The Ethical and Financial Case for Sustainable Practices

The call for sustainability in property management is not just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how we view our interaction with the environment. For waterfront property owners and managers, the seawall presents a unique opportunity to align environmental stewardship with financial prudence.

By opting for sustainable materials and methods, you’re not just reducing your property’s environmental impact; you’re also setting the stage for long-term cost savings, regulatory benefits, and enhanced property value. Sustainable practices in seawall maintenance and repair offer a win-win scenario, marrying ethical responsibility with financial viability.

So, as you plan your next seawall maintenance or repair project, consider going green. It’s not just about doing the right thing for the planet; it’s also about doing the smart thing for your business. Adopting sustainable practices today will position your property for success in an increasingly eco-conscious world, making it a choice you won’t regret.

Water is Relentless!

Admin December 12, 2022

Water is relentless. This is a key fact that all waterfront property owners should thoroughly understand. The price of enjoying an oceanfront, riverfront, or lakeside view from the comfort of your own home is the inherent risk that comes with living right next to a large body of water.

Four Critical Warning Signs of Seawall Failure

If your residence is protected by a seawall, you should familiarize yourself with the four critical warning signs of seawall failure:

Soil Depressions Near the Seawall
Rust Stains on the Surface
Movement or Shifting of the Seawall
Cracks in the Concrete

Excessive rainwater or floodwater build-up on the landward side of the wall (usually resulting from an inadequate or clogged weep hole system within the wall itself) will put untenable hydrostatic pressure on the structure. This pressure can cause parts of the wall to move and/or crack. Once the concrete is broken, landward side water will pull soil from your property through the wall and into the water on the other side, causing depressions or small sinkholes near the structure. In addition, steel rebar or mesh inside the wall is exposed to rust, resulting in rust stains appearing on the surface.

Four Options for Dealing with Seawall Damage

Once aware of these problems, you’re faced with four options:

Ignore the Problem and Do Nothing
(If you go this route, the problem gets worse – and more expensive to repair – over time.)
Replace the Seawall
(This option is typically a lot more expensive than a repair, requires heavy equipment, and involves messy disruptive excavation.)
Repair with Inferior Methods
(Inferior repair materials such as hydraulic cement, slurry, and sodium silicate do not provide a permanent, long-term solution.)
Repair with proven Seawall Repair Network^® methods.
(More on this in the next section.)

You can read more about these four options on the Seawall & Bulkhead Replacement vs Repair page. Needless to say, any of the four critical warning signs should warrant a checkup from a qualified seawall repair contractor. Most contractors offer free professional assessments and repair estimates.

Fortunately, there are many effective methods at your disposal in the battle against water’s relentless onslaught. Seawall Repair Network^® preferred marine contractors provide two major types of repair – seawall stabilization and seawall preservation.

Seawall Stabilization

Stabilizing a cracked or shifting seawall is accomplished via these four methods:

Stabilizing Soil and Sealing Leaks with SW-RP1
(SW-RP1 repair material is stronger than crystalline bedrock and safe for the environment.)
Installing a Hydrostatic Pressure Control System
(Creation of pressure release channels with filters that allow water to move back and forth, maintaining an equilibrium of hydrostatic pressure. These filters also prevent soil migration and void formation on the landward side.)
Repairing Cracks in Seawall Caps
(Repairing the seawall caps with high-strength epoxy.)
Installing a Seawall Anchoring System – If Necessary
(When needed, steel tie-backs are installed to prevent future movement of the seawall.)

You can learn more about these methods on the Seawall Stabilization page.

Seawall Preservation

Treating the concrete with preservation solutions provides additional long-term protection. Preservation is accomplished via these three methods:

Inhibiting Corrosion with SW-Prevent
(SW-Prevent creates an insulating layer on the surface of any steel rebar or mesh inside the wall.)
Strengthening Surface Concrete with SW-Power
(SW-Power renders concrete surfaces resistant to air or water-born chemical damage.)
Protecting Surface Concrete with SW-Protect
(SW-Protect inhibits water penetration.)

You can learn more about these methods on the Seawall Preservation page.

Water is Relentless – But YOU Can Be Too!

There is no reason to be intimidated by water’s relentless onslaught. All you have to do is memorize the four critical warning signs, and then enlist a qualified seawall repair contractor when needed. With the proper stabilization and preservation support, your seawall can safely protect that beautiful waterfront view for generations to come.

Banner - Importance of Shoreline Resilience

The Importance of Shoreline Resilience

Admin October 31, 2022

Our international population is rapidly approaching 8 billion people. According to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, “almost 40 percent of the population lives in relatively high-population-density coastal areas, where sea level plays a role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms. Globally, eight of the world’s 10 largest cities are near a coast, according to the U.N. Atlas of the Oceans.” Read more here…

The international community must prepare and implement engineered design plans to contend with the severe forces of nature and ever-increasing water levels. Waterfront property and infrastructure must be resilient to the forces of mother nature.

New York City alone has a population of nearly 25 million citizens, in just roughly 300 square miles. This area is situated on one of the world’s largest natural harbors, with water covering 36.4% of its surface area. Providing resilient infrastructure to protect against rising water levels has become a priority for federal, city, county, and city planners over the last few years. (Pictured: Seawall Repair NetworkⓇ preferred marine contractors Mary Grubbs and Lou Marques of LJS Waterproofing and Northeast Seawall & Soil Stabilization.) Seawall Repair NetworkⓇ is committed to educating and working with all parties in meeting the difficult tasks associated with creating more resilient shoreline communities.

Environmentally Safe Seawall Repair

Admin June 8, 2022

Do not get caught off guard. It’s crucial to determine if the seawall contractor you are considering uses repair materials that meet NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards for contact with drinking water. But what exactly are NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards? Our goal here is to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of why NSF approval is important for any materials that may be used to repair your seawall.

What is the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation)?

The National Sanitation Foundation develops public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products, and environment. Their organization ensures that adequate testing is conducted for all products that will be used in or around drinking water from source to tap.

As mentioned in our blog post, SW-RP1 – Environmentally Friendly Seawall Repair Material…

An NSF compliance brief reads: “NSF, an independent, private, not-for-profit, third-party certification organization founded in 1944, has developed numerous health-based certification programs and consensus standards including those that relate to drinking water…The purpose of its certification program is to promote public health and enrich the quality of life. Through its Council of Public Health and Health Advisory Board, which includes EPA health professionals, it obtains guidance in developing and maintaining programs and standards. NSF also partners with code councils to ensure ongoing compliance.”

Each product must undergo rigorous testing to receive NSF approval. The manufacturer’s plant and quality assurance practices must pass a thorough inspection. Voluntarily undergoing such a rigorous certification process is invaluable to all parties involved.

The SDWA (Safe Water Drinking Act)

As mentioned in our blog post, SW-RP1 – Environmentally Friendly Seawall Repair Material…

The Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) gives the EPA latitude to impose criminal and civil penalties on industries that are not in compliance. In 2014 enforcement efforts policing clean water netted $163 million in penalties and fines, 155 combined years of incarceration for sentenced defendants, and $16 million in court-ordered project clean-ups.

Because so many of those defined contaminants are pertinent to even the most basic construction projects – turbidity from soil runoff, leaching from PVC pipes, potentially harmful and corrosive chemicals, and more – understanding and adhering to the law is particularly important for industry stakeholders. Contractors and engineers must be able to confidently choose vendors whose products and services won’t become the source or cause of drinking water contamination either in the short or long term.

Using products certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 (approved for contact with drinking water), ensures compliance with the SDWA.

Seawall Repair Network NSF Approved Solutions

Seawall Repair Network contractors use the following NSF-certified materials:

Protecting Drinking Water from Potential Flood Contamination

Admin October 6, 2021

Planners at Washington D.C.’s water utility, D.C. Water, decided to take proactive measures against potential flooding of their facility. Located right next to the Potomac, their facility could’ve been at risk in the event of an out-of-the-ordinary natural disaster. Determining that the main risk to the water supply in such a case would be permeation through sub-surface soil, they began installing a metal sheet pile wall deep into the substrate between the riverbank and the facility. However, in some spots, they were not able to drive a sheet pile panel into the ground because of underground utility lines or rocky substrate. The planners called in Seawall Repair Network contractor LJS Waterproofing to create sub-surface grout walls in those spots to fill in the gaps.

Repair Materials

The crew “constructed” these sections of the underground wall by injecting SW-RP1. This repair material permeates the soil, fills small voids in the soil, and cuts off water flow.

Procedures

LJS Waterproofing professionals used a Geoprobe to drive injection pipes into the ground (up to 33 feet in some locations). They then injected one gallon per foot using upward staging. The next injection point was 18 inches away from the first one. This process was repeated until a grout wall formed, filling the gap between the two adjacent underground sheet piles. For a large-scale job like this, they used a PolyShark single component grout pump manufactured by Alchemy-Spetec.

Results

With solid, impermeable grout walls filling in the gaps, a sub-surface barrier between the riverbank and the drinking water facility was now in place. The planners at D.C. Water were very satisfied with this solution.

SW-RP1 – Environmentally Friendly Seawall Repair Material

Admin May 26, 2021

On seawall repair projects of all scopes and sizes, ensuring environmental safety is mission-critical. That’s why Seawall Repair Network’s SW-RP1 high-strength repair material has the official NSF seal of approval for contact with drinking water. This single designation ensures compliance with the Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) and guarantees peace of mind for property owners and managers.

The SDWA helps ensure the water we drink, bathe in, cook with, and use in myriad other ways in daily life is safe for consumption. The federal law was put in place to maintain public health standards for drinking water systems. It defines what is considered a contaminant – both man-made and naturally occurring; and outlines the agencies responsible for regulating, monitoring, and enforcing adherence to the law, primarily the Environmental Protection Agency.

The SDWA gives the EPA latitude to impose criminal and civil penalties on industries not in compliance. In 2014 enforcement efforts policing clean water netted $163 million in penalties and fines, 155 combined years of incarceration for sentenced defendants, and $16 million in court-ordered project clean-ups.

“NSF, an independent, private, not-for-profit, third-party certification organization founded in 1944, has developed numerous health-based certification programs and consensus standards including those that relate to drinking water,” reads an NSF compliance brief. “The purpose of its certification program is to promote public health and enrich the quality of life. Through its Council of Public Health and Health Advisory Board, which includes EPA health professionals, it obtains guidance in developing and maintaining programs and standards. NSF also partners with code councils to ensure ongoing compliance.”

NSF-certified materials are evaluated and lab-tested, and production facilities such as our own are inspected and annually audited for re-testing to maintain certification.

Seawall Repair Network voluntarily undergoing such a rigorous certification process is invaluable to property owners and managers because it provides assurance that, at the end of the day, your seawall repair project is safe and environmentally friendly.