Barriers & booms | An effective solution


Kyrylo Filatov and Alexandr Duchanin, engineers from ECONAD, give an insight into how floating barriers can be used for dam and reservoir protection.


Above: Floating barrier systems are effective civil engineering solutions for enhancing safety near critical infrastructure


HYDROPOWER FACILITIES, DAMS AND reservoirs increasingly face operational risks from floating debris, uncontrolled vessel access and environmental contamination. Flood events, seasonal ice movement, timber transport and storm runoff can inroduce large volumes of driftwood and waste into intake zones, spillways, and sensitive hydraulic structures. If unmanaged, this material may obstruct water flow, damage turbines, increase abrasion of concrete surfaces, or compromise safety zones near critical infrastructure.


Below: Demarcation and controlled access barriers are of bright colouration


Floating barrier systems provide an effective civil-engineering solution to these challenges. While such systems are sometimes associated with maritime security, their primary value in inland and coastal water power applications lies in controlled debris interception, zone demarcation, and long-term protection of hydraulic assets. In ECONAD we have been engineering, testing and manufacturing booms since the establishment in 1991. Our technologies have been using as for oil spill response operations as for civil and security protections. With production facilities in Eastern Europe and operational projects across ports, rivers, and industrial water facilities, the company has developed a range of modular floating barriers adapted for both coastal and inland water applications. Our engineering team combines hydrodynamic modelling, material science, and field testing to tailor barrier systems to site-specific conditions, including extreme weather environments and complex hydraulic regimes. Nowadays there are two categories of floating barriers which can be used in dam and reservoir environments: heavy-duty protective containment


booms for debris interception and trespassing prevention and high-visibility demarcation barriers for controlled water zoning. Protective floating barriers designed for hydropower and reservoir applications typically consist of modular sections connected into continuous floating lines. A standard barrier module ranges from 3 to 10m in length, allowing flexible system configuration depending on the width of the protected area and local hydrodynamic conditions.


Structure and profile A typical module incorporates: ● A cylindrical or multi-chamber float (diameter 400–800mm, length from 1500-3500mm), providing buoyancy and stability


● A vertical flexible skirt extending 0.6–1.5m below the waterline (optional)


● A reinforced tension member (steel cable or polyester rope) integrated along the top or internal axis


● Connection flanges or quick-lock couplings at both ends


● Optional ballast chain in the lower edge of the skirt for improved vertical stability or the anchorage


The resulting profile allows the boom to ride over small waves while maintaining sufficient submerged depth to intercept floating and semi-submerged debris.


Materials Modern protective booms are commonly manufactured


from: ● PE tubes or plastic for floaters. ● Marine-grade aluminium or hot-dip galvanized steel connectors.


● Closed-cell polyethylene or polyurethane foamed core.


● UV- and hydrocarbon-resistant coatings for metal part for extended service life.


These materials are selected to withstand prolonged


exposure to ultraviolet radiation, temperature fluctuations from –30°C to +50°C, mechanical abrasion, and intermittent contact with oil or industrial pollutants.


Anchoring and installation Anchoring systems are customised for site conditions


and may include: ● Concrete anchor blocks (widely used). ● Steel piles (depending on location). ● Bank-mounted tension cables. ● Elastic mooring compensators to absorb dynamic loads.


Barriers can be installed in straight-diagonal or curved lines, V-shaped debris deflection configurations, or semi-circular intake protection layouts.


Demarcation and controlled-access


barriers A second category of floating barrier systems is


38 | February/March 2026 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45