ITV reporter James Webster interviewing UK flood expert Mary Dhonau about the benefits of FloodSax alternative sandbags Traditional sandbags are 'hideous, messy things' that simply don't work FloodSax sandless sandbags can stop torrential floodwater FloodSax are brilliant at soaking up flooding as they did at this Yorkshire school

ITV News reveals why FloodSax alternative sandbags are a far better option than traditional sandbags

ITV News has done a hard-hitting report revealing that traditional sandbags will let water into your home or business in under a minute while FloodSax alternative sandbags are far more effective for flood prevention.

ITV News Central reporter James Webster did the report after parts of the Midlands, especially in Ironbridge, Shropshire and Bewdley in Worcestershire both continually face severe flooding.

The report revealed that floods that are supposed to happen once every 100 years or so are now happening far more regularly.

James said: “When water levels start to rise many people rely on sandbags to protect their homes and businesses but that could be a mistake.”

He interviewed well-known UK flood campaigner Mary Dhonau, who said: “I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve spoken to who have said that sandbags are hopeless.  I think it’s a comfort blanket. People wanting to be doing something but they are doing the wrong thing as sandbags don’t work.”

A flood victim called Karen was interviewed, who said: “When you live in a flood area you have to take your own precautions, which we did in 2010. We were then flooded in 2012 – the kind of flood that was expected only once every 100 years. We had sandbags then and we think they are hideous things that are messy. They don’t stop water seeping through and they turn that water dirty.”

Recent tests carried out by Mary at an independent flood research centre showed that water can get past sandbags in less than a minute.

James reported: “There’s no requirement for the Environment Agency to provide sandbags and many councils have a very limited supply which is why Mary is urging more people to invest in their own flood defences. Mary says there are many items on the market that are far more effective than sandbags.”

Mary then spoke in detail about how well FloodSax alternative sandbags work compared to traditional sandbags.

Mary, who is affectionately known as  Mary Queen of Floods, is an expert on what prevents floods.

She’s often on tour around the country in her floodmobile showing people the best ways to prevent flooding in the first place and also what can be done inside your home or business to stop damage should the floodwater get in.

Here’s her ultimate flooding 1, 2, 3.

Step 1: Have a specialist flood door to prevent the water getting in.

Step 2: Put FloodSax on the floor inside the door to soak up any water that seeps in.

Step 3: Invest in a portable water pump to get rid of the water quickly down to 1mm … and then use FloodSax again to soak the rest up.

Mary said: “To get the flooding kite mark, anti-flood devices must not leak more than a litre of water in an hour.”

This means that water can and does seep in through many anti-flood devices.

Mary’s floodmobile features everything from FloodSax sandless sandbags, non-return valves in pipes and air brick covers to waterproof flooring and an ingenious cavity membrane system to stop water coming through the walls.

FloodSax are very space-saving to store yet are multi-purpose and flexible. In their dry state, FloodSax are incredibly thin with a large surface area so can be slipped into the most inaccessible places such as underneath sinks and beneath floorboards to soak up drips, leaks and spills. This can be vital if you have a leaking pipe or radiator to prevent damage until a plumber can get there.

Once immersed fully in water the FloodSax absorbs the water and then retains it so it miraculously inflates to become an instant ‘sandbag’ but without any sand. They are around 96% biodegradable by weight so are far more environmentally friendly than sandbags which can quickly deteriorate and leak sand everywhere, clogging up drains.

Find out more about FloodSax at www.floodsax.co.uk