Inflatable dam at IJssel River mouth a problem

KAMPEN – A recent study has revealed that Waterschap Groot Salland’s inflatable dam at the IJssel River mouth is not quite as dependable as engineers had expected. The acceptable failure rate is 1 in 2,850 but the study shows it in fact is 1 in 22. The problem occurs upon deflation of the canvass. If it does nor deflate properly, passing ships could tear the material rendering it useless. The water management authority finds the installation’s technology – the only one of its kind so far - to be more problematic than anticipated.