National Drug Take Back Day Explained

How to Dispose of Expired Medicine

Police Station Drug Disposal

National Drug Take Back Day is on Oct. 26 and encourages people to safely dispose of their prescription drugs at approved drop-off locations.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration hosts this particular event twice-a-year, setting up temporary collection sites throughout the nation for no-questions-asked prescription drug disposal, which includes opioids.

Local drop-off sites can be found through the DEA’s website, as well as several National Drug Take Back Day PSAs. Participating is pretty simple: Know what kinds of things are acceptable to bring to a National Drug Take Back Day location and how to dispose of expired medicine. Unwanted or expired prescription drugs are accepted at each drop-off location.

What kind of things can you dispose of no-questions asked?

• Expired prescription medicines
• Unwanted prescribed, controlled substances
• Vaping devices and cartridges

The last National Drug Take Back Day was in April of 2019 and saw over 6,200 sites collect 468 tons of unwanted or expired medications. 

Things that are not accepted:

• Needles or other sharps waste
• Asthma inhalers
• Mercury thermometers
• Iodine medications
• Illegal drugs or substances

There’s an abundance of valuable information on reducing the amount of deaths from accidental overdoses from misused medications. Test your knowledge of proper drug disposal on the DEA’s website quiz to better understand how to dispose of expired medicine.

Once you participate in National Drug Take Back Day and you drop your unwanted or expired prescription drugs off, you might wonder what happens to your expired medicine. Typically, this medicine and other prescribed controlled substances are incinerated to make sure they are completely destroyed and non-usable.

Police Station Drug Disposal Barrel Burner

A police station drug disposal barrel burner ensures that no one can accidentally come in contact with and abuse a drug or medicine that was not prescribed to them. In fact, this is National Drug Take Back Day’s aim. Law enforcement agencies often need to destroy seized drugs or evidence and must transport it away from headquarters to do so. Traveling with evidence and seized drugs is both costly and time consuming. An in-house police station drug disposal barrel burner would be a worthwhile investment for police stations needing to free up space and wanting to save money.

Our Little Helios Police Station Drug Barrel Burner is the perfect size for police station drug disposal and other law enforcement agencies drug disposal needs, allowing them to operate it at their leisure. Constructed with an optional 55-gallon stainless steel drum, back wheels, and a back blower, this system for incinerating evidence, expired medicines, and confiscated drugs is perfect for police stations and law enforcement agencies.

National Drug Take Back Day happens twice a year, but unwanted or expired medications can be dropped off at your local police station all-year long. If you’re a law enforcement agency, handling and disposing of confiscated and surrendered drugs requires the right tools.

Are you interested in our Little Helios Police Station Barrel Burner? This unit is specifically designed for police station drug disposal systems and law enforcement agencies. Our barrel burner regulations and exemptions can be found on our website, as well as information about how to use the barrel burner.

Contact us at 1-772-646-0597 and ask to speak with a barrel burner specialist today.

Hurricane Safety: What Your Business Needs

Preparing for Hurricane Dorian With The Right Solutions

Hurricane safety when facing down a major storm is a big concern. Preparing your home and business for flood or wind damage will ensure you are able to pick up day-to-day activities when the storm passes.  Hurricane Dorian is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane, and you want to make sure your business is prepared to face its effects. Storm surge, localized and widespread flooding, and high wind speeds will whip through Florida cities. If you don’t have the right hurricane safety essentials, you could be left with incredible damage.

The National Hurricane Center reports that regardless of Hurricane Dorian’s exact track, heavy rains are expected to occur over several days, which can result in widespread flooding. Tornadoes are another issue when planning for this hurricane safety because they often occur in the rain bands away from the center of the storm. Having a plan when storms strike is just as essential as having the right solutions when Hurricane Dorian is in your own front yard. Keep reading for essential hurricane safety supplies.

Large and Small Flood Protection Walls

With hurricanes comes storm surge, rising canal waters, and torrents of falling rain. Preparing for the possibility of rising flood waters means keeping in mind what areas of your business or home are most flood-prone. Depending on what kind of flood protection your home or business needs, you might choose different types of flood protection walls. For heavier flood protection, flood barriers are ideal. For smaller-scale flood protection, sandbags would be a better choice.

Emergency Water Storage  and Fuel Storage

Having access to reliable emergency water storage could mean the difference between life and death. Water supply provides access to drinking water and non-potable water for cleaning, other daily activities, and even fire suppression. Hurricane safety means prepping enough water and fuel before the rains come.

Water storage bladders can be made with fabrics that satisfy NSF61 and FDA requirements for potable, drinking, emergency water storage. When needing to safely store temporary drinking water for a group of people, having flexibility in water storage capacity is important. Hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters will need a viable water storage solution when storms come. Barbados hospitals and other organizations are maintaining 50,000 gallon water tanks for use during Hurricane Dorian for emergency water storage.

Having a tough, rugged flexible fuel tank is ideal when facing down a hurricane. Stationary fuel storage during an emergency is absolutely necessary. Our flexible bladders can range in capacity from 25 to 210,000 gallons. Flexible fuel storage is useful in disaster relief, fuel storage in remote locations, and FEMA emergency relief efforts.

Following a Step-by-Step Hurricane Safety Plan

Having a ready supply of hurricane supplies with the right plan will make sure your business and home are prepared for the worst possible scenarios. Flood protection walls, emergency water storage, tarps, and drip diverters are all part of a bigger plan to keep your business and home safe from Hurricane Dorian. Visit our Emergency Supplies page for information on the essential supplies needed for hurricane safety.

For even more comprehensive information on prepping your business, visit FEMA’s  Business Protection Toolkit to learn how you can practice hurricane safety before, during, and after a hurricane.

Call us today at 1-772-646-0597 and ask to speak to a hurricane preparation specialist. 

3 Reasons to Invest in Portable Water Storage Tanks

How Water Storage Tanks Can Save Money, Time, and Lives

Having access to water is essential. 

Whether that water is for drinking, landscaping, or for extinguishing wildfires, having a portable water supply is important to do your job faster and easier. Investing in a portable water storage tank will provide access to water in situations when it is needed most.

Here are five reasons your business needs to invest in a portable water storage tank.

1. Transport water in emergency situations.

When emergencies arise that limit our access to water, having our own supply is imperative. When roads are flooded after a hurricane and clean water is a scarce commodity, having an on-hand, portable water storage tank could be a lifesaver.

These tanks are made from highly resistant polyethylene materials that range in capacity size from 210 to 465 gallons. If you need to transport drinking water, the interior of these tanks can be coated to meet FDA standards for safe drinking water.

There are also larger options for emergency water transport.The Argo water trailer is designed to access off-road farms and remote locations. One benefit of this trailer is its ability to quickly access and address bale, cotton, or grass fires.

2. Clean off dirty equipment.

Sometimes the most important thing for your business is to safely transport water around for various tasks. 

Equipment gets dirty and needs to be washed down after work is completed or employees need water in remote locations. Whatever the reason, a DOT compliant water tank trailer is a solution to your water transporting needs.

Our 500 gallon Argo water tank trailer is equipped to handle many of your water storage requirements. 

Made with high strength polyethylene, the tank is situated on a DOT compliant trailer and outfitted with hoses, pumps, and spray equipment. These tank trailers are resistant to rust and corrosion, and are ideal for remote areas.

3.  Fight fires in rural areas.

When a fire breaks out in a remote area, emergency services might not be able to make it to your location before the fire spreads to buildings, damages other property, or harms people and animals. Having a portable fire protection water storage tank allows you to transport water anywhere on your property and in other rural locations. A portable storage tank with high capacities provides greater resources to put out any fires that should occur.

Our fire suppression water trailers are equipped with a 25-foot hose and 2-inch pump with a Honda engine for fire prevention. The polyethylene tank is designed for off-road use to handle the most remote of locations. This tank trailer’s hose has the ability to target spray areas and also cover large amounts of ground with an adjustable spray bar. 

The tank’s black color is an added benefit. Because light is blocked from reaching the water, it reduces the likelihood of algae forming in the tank. You can also use this tank as a reserve. 

Choosing Your Portable Water Storage Tank

Whatever the water needs are for your business site, having a portable water storage tank will save you time, money, and worry in the long run. Whether this tank is 200 or 1,600 gallons, choosing the size and type of tank will depend on your business applications, needs, and goals.

Do you want to know what kind of portable water storage tank solution is right for you? 

To learn more about GEI Works, contact us at +1-772-646-0597 to receive one-on-one assistance with all your water storage needs.

Sargassum Blooms Plague Mexican Beaches, Affecting Tourism

How Sargassum Can Be Stopped Before It Reaches the Shore

Masses of sargassum are washing up on Caribbean beaches, hurting tourism, ravaging ecosystems, and overwhelming beaches. In Cancún, previously pristine beaches are covered in the large brown seaweed that usually floats in the ocean.

So, what can be done?

The first step in controlling sargassum is to understand where it is coming from, why the bloom is so large, and how to prevent it from coming ashore to rot.

Predicting Sargassum Blooms

As sargassum blooms and creeps toward shorelines, it’s only natural to wonder how much will be coming in the next few months.

The University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab’s Satellite-based Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) offers insight into how much, where, and when the sargassum is coming. This program uses satellite data and numerical models to detect and track sargassum as it moves.

SaWS recently released its sargassum outlookbulletin for June and some information about the coming months. The bulletin confirmed the high amount of sargassum beaching in the Caribbean, as well as large amounts in the central west Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

While the estimated sargassum this year is less than was recorded in 2018, which saw more than 20 million metric tons, the total estimated amount this year is supposed to be greater than 10 million metric tons, which is greater than 2015’s sargassum conditions.

Sargassum Watch System at a Glance:

• Large amounts of sargassum are predicted for July and August in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
• This year’s sargassum bloom is the second highest recorded year for the same month.
• Total estimated amount of sargassum is greater than 10 million metric tons so far this year.

The exact amount of sargassum present on beaches will be determined by ocean tides, circulations, and winds. As mentioned above, the sargassum watch system is an estimation, not a direct prediction.

Caribbean Beaches Struggling with Sargassum

Recently, Mexico enlisted  its Navy to remove the sargassum from some of its beaches and water using heavy machinery. The government hoped this would be cost-efficient, but despite its best efforts the problem may have only gotten worse.

Because of this intense sargassum build-up in the Caribbean, representatives from several countries gathered on June 27 in Cancún to discuss strategies to combat sargassum on Caribbean beaches.

Some of the Caribbean countries in attendance:

• Mexico
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• The Dominican Republic
• Jamaica
• Trinidad and Tobago

Officials met not to solve the sargassum problem outright, but to collaborate between each other to better coordinate solutions. Some of those solutions included supporting extra research into the sargassum bloom and developing a warning system similar to ones we have for other natural phenomena.

Typical, But Ineffective, Methods of Sargassum Control

A typical method of sargassum control is to remove it directly from the beaches, but this has its problems. Simply removing the sargassum from the Caribbean shorelines, either by hand or with costly equipment that needs to be maintained, is a tedious, short-term task, rather than a long-term solution. 

When you remove it from the beach, you must have a designated area, away from the public, where you can dispose of it due to its corrosive, toxic nature when it decomposes.

Rotting sargassum problems:

• Emits toxic, corrosive gas
• Attracts invasive insects
• Destabilizes beaches, causing erosion

Unlike other sargassum clean-up methods, a floating containment boom can last awhile and doesn’t require multiple clean-up attempts. This solution meets the sargassum where it exists—in the water.

A Good Solution:Stop Sargassum from Coming Onshore

An effective solution for sargassum control is to stop it while it is still mobile and floating in the water.

Sargassum floats because its berry-like pneumatocysts are filled with air and provide buoyancy on the surface of the water in rafts. Floating rafts of sargassum provide needed habitats for fish, turtles, crabs, and birds.

Sargassum itself is not bad, but problems arise when it grows at an exponential rate as a result of nutrient-rich waters from fertilizer runoff and pollution. If the sargassum is creeping onshore in exponential amounts before it can sink, containing it away from shore is the best solution. 

Cost effective solutions to controlling sargassum include using a floating containment boom, also called a floating barrier. These floating barriers contain:

• Trash
• Debris
• Seaweed

Using a permanent barrier, that won’t allow sargassum to wash over it and requires minimal attention, will keep more sargassum away from the shore for a longer period of time. A permanent barrier is a great solutionfor resorts and hotels, who want to keep their beachfronts clean for guests and swimmers.

Keeping the beaches clean is essential for hotels and businesses around Quintana Roo and Playa del Carmen to survive. For Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Cozumel, and Isla Mujeres, tourism is at stake with the invasion of sargassum.

Floating Seaweed Barrier

The benefits of a floating seaweed barrier are abundant. For one, they keep sargassum away from beach goers. Once installed, floating barriers need inspections twice a week or after intense weather. 

As sargassum is contained in the barrier, the beach stays clean, and the need for widespread cleanup is eliminated.

Working to remove sargassum from pristine beaches, and ensuring that it doesn’t come back, requires the right tools. The Orion Aquatic Plantand Containment Boom from GEI Works deflects and diverts sargassum from shorelines all while effectively containing it.

Inspect your sargassum containment boom to make sure that is performing at its highest level. Twice a week, check the boom, connections, lines, and buoys for functionality. Also, remove any build-up of sargassum that could threaten the boom.

The best practices for keeping and maintaininga sargassum containment boom can be simple.

Contact GEI Works to receive help and to discuss your sargassum issues at +1-772-646-0597.

Hurricane Tracking and Preparation with New Forecasting Tools

Hurricane Tracking in the Atlantic

Forecasting Severe Storms in Real Time to Better Prepare for Them

Hurricane activity in the Atlantic is supposed to be near-normal this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

    

NOAA used hurricane tracking to predict 9 to 15 named storms in 2019, 4 to 8 of which could be hurricanes, and 2 to 4 of which could become major hurricanes.

 

But, can NOAA's hurricane forecasting be improved upon? With the right information, sure it can.

With more up-to-date information, NOAA’s ability to predict storms will improve and, in turn, the public’s ability to prepare for storms will improve as well.  

Preparing for storms well in advance is one of the best ways to survive them. Knowing how to prepare and what hurricane supplies are needed is also important.  With NOAA’s forecasting systems getting new information soon, knowing when to prepare for future storms will be essential.

But, what are these changes to NOAA’s forecasting system and how do they work?

Changes to NOAA’s  Global Forecast System are coming in the form of six new satellites that will orbit the earth’s equator.

This system of six weather satellites is called COSMIC-2, or the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate.

It’s part of a join effort between the U.S. Air Force, NOAA, Taiwan’s National Space Organization, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, built on the success of the COSMIC-1 program, launched in 2006, which established a climate change thermometer and a global weather forecast.

How NOAA Tracks for Hurricanes

This system of satellites will better track hurricanes around the equator where they are first formed. COSMIC-2 will use radio occultation data to improve weather forecasting models.

How does it all work? Radio occultation is the measurement of how radio waves from global positioning systems and constellations bend as they move through the atmosphere.

GPS satellites circle the equator and send signals down to receivers on earth. Because the density of the earth’s atmosphere changes with height, these signals get distorted along the way. COSMIC-2 hurricane tracking satellites measure the bend in those signals before they’re cut off by the horizon.

These measurements that COSMIC-2 satellites take give scientists real-time information on temperature, pressure, density, and water vapor, all of which are valuable data that scientists can use to track hurricanes.

At a glance, COSMIC-2 satellites measure these in the atmosphere:

•          Temperature
•          Pressure
•          Density
•          Water Vapor

Preparing for Hurricanes Before They Strike

Making sure your business is fully equipped to safely ride through a storm is essential. Once COSMIC-2’s information is up and running, meteorologists will have a better idea of when severe weather will strike, but you can start preparing for hurricanes now. 

Hurricane essentials for businesses are:

• Potable water
• Back-up fuel supply
• Flood protection
• Durable tarp covering

Potable Water Storage During Hurricanes

Clean drinking water is usually the first thing everyone puts on their hurricane supply list. That’s because having a supply of clean, potable water for everyday needs is essential. When dealing with the after-effects of a storm, having an emergency water storage tank can be a life saver.

Bladder water tanks are built for safe water storage with durable fabric that meets FDA potable water requirements. GEI Works’ Mars Water Bladder Tanks range in size from 25 gallons to 210,000 gallons.

The emergency water storage onion tanks are easy to set up and made with durable fabric. GEI Works’ Hydrostar Onion Tank can be custom-made with fabric suitable for drinking water. Onion tanks are self rising, self supporting, and fold easily for convenient storage. Low side onion water tanks range from 250 to 10,000 gallons, and high side onion water tanks range from 500 to 10,000 gallons.

Frame tanks are also a valuable tool for water storage. GEI Works’ Centaur frame tank can be quickly set up and filled with water for emergency storage. Having a water storage tank with a liner made with FDA approved materials for potable water is essential. Frame tanks like these range in size from 500 to 5,000 gallons.

Tarp Protection from Wind and Rain

Protecting materials during a hurricane means covering equipment like dumpsters, dump trucks, and secondary containment vessels against rain, wind, and flying debris. GEI Works’ tarps are water proof and leak resistant and can be made in customizable sizes to protect valuable equipment.

Flood Barriers for Storm Surge Protection

Hurricane-force winds bring with them rising oceans and flood waters. Using a flood barrier to protect against flash floods and hurricane storm surge offers higher protection as opposed to smaller sandbags.

GEI Works’ flood barriers can be filled with sand, gravel, or even concrete. Using bulk bags for flood protection is a viable choice for flood protection, as bulk bags offer a larger line of defense than sandbags.

Fuel Tank Preparation during a Storm

Having gasoline is essential during times of severe weather, when generators, vehicles, and other machines might require it. Once the storm has passed, gas trailers might not be able to get through to replenish stations if roads are blocked and power lines are down.

Being  able to store fuel safely on your property will save worry in the long run . A collapsible tank for stationary fuel storage solves this problem. Flexible  fuel tanks come in small and large sizes; smaller bladders come in sizes from 25 to 5,000 gallons and larger bladders comes in sizes from 5,000 to 210,000 gallons.

Looking Forward to New Information in Hurricane Tracking

The COSMIC-2 satellites launched last week on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. Once in orbit, the satellites will be tested for seven months before any data are used in weather models. COSMIC-2 will also fly two space weather science payloads: a radio frequency beacon transmitter and an ion velocity meter to gather even more information.

COSMIC-2 information at a glance:

• Comprised of six hurricane tracking satellites orbiting Earth's equator
• Measures changes in atmosphere
• Gives real-time data to scientists for hurricane tracking

The technology for predicting natural disasters won’t stop them from occurring, but it will make it easier to know when they’re coming. However, we already know the best time to prepare for a storm is now.

Bolstering  Hurricane Forecasting

The information provided by these satellites will help meteorologists and scientists better observe and track hurricanes, typhoons, and other destructive weather systems.

In recent years, in the U.S. particularly, hurricanes have wreaked havoc. Costly hurricanes, like Harvey, Maria, and Irma just in 2017 alone, slammed into the coasts, causing damage with wind, storm surge, and flooding further inland.

Knowing what’s coming will help, but being proactive about hurricane preparedness is the best possible plan.

Have questions about how  you can better prepare your business for hurricanes? To learn more about GEI Works, contact us at +1-772-646-0597 to receive one-on-one assistance with all your hurricane season preparedness needs.

The Midwest Floods of 2019

Preparing for the Worst by Learning from the Past

Spring flooding in the Midwest has caused incredible damage to cities, towns, and agriculture, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimating $37.3 billion in damages. The catastrophic floods in the Midwest and Plains states, reminds us of the Great Flood of 1927 and 1993. But we’ve learned that it’s the conditions and preparation that precede the flooding that determine how much damage will go unstopped.

Potential causes of massive flooding:

• Snowpack and frost
• Moisture level in soil
• Streamflow and precipitation

These factors are all potential contributors to flooding. Precipitation in seven of nine Plains and Midwest states during fall of 2018 outweighed precipitation during fall of 1992. Similarly, eight of nine Plains and Midwest states had a wetter winter during 2018 and 2019 than in 1992 and 1993.

As the soil becomes saturated, it has trouble absorbing heavy rainfall, causing runoff into creeks and rivers.  As the rivers fill up, the potential catastrophic floods increase.

In 1993, a cluster of large thunderstorms, known to meteorologists as mesoscale convective systems, dropped an incredible amount of rain on the Midwest and Plain states. Conditions for rainfall like this most often depend on air temperature.

Surviving a Flood

Three lives have been lost due to the flooding in the Midwest this year, according to NOAA’s weather and climate disaster table of events. The Department of Homeland Security has tips for facing floods natural disasters.

• Always evacuate if you are told to
• Don’t drive around barricades
• Stay off bridges
• Avoid contact with flood water
• Move to higher ground

The time to prepare for a flood is now. Know the flood risks in your area, make a plan, and subscribe to your community’s emergency warning system. Learn evacuation routes and plan ahead to protect your home and businesses.

Proven Solutions When Stormwaters Rise

According to NOAA , while states in the upper Mississippi and Missouri River basins (Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa), are at risk of flooding, states in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River and portions of California and Nevada are also at risk of minor floods.

Landslides, erosion, and overflow of water systems are all potential effects of large-scale flooding. Sediment left behind as a result of flood waters, reduces water quality affecting the water supply.
Flood waters can also contain debris and nutrients, which can affect the water quality, encouraging the growth of algae.

Controlling sediment dispersion with a turbidity curtain helps to control erosion, blocking sediment and protecting wildlife and surrounding vegetation. Curtains like this are used to keep bodies of water silt free and keeping the quality of water high.

Needs can vary when protecting your home or business from the effects of flood water. Contact GEI Works at +1-772-646-0597 to receive one-on-one assistance with all your flood prevention requirements.

Four Must-Have Bladder Tank Accessories

Maximize the many benefits of your collapsible bladder tank with GEI Works tank equipment accessories–easily protect both your location and the contents of your pillow tank.

Bladder Tanks are an extremely useful and versatile form of liquid storage. They fold flat when not in use, they fill up quickly, and are easily drained. They can range in size from 25 gallons to 210,000 gallons capacities for a variety of applications.

However, proper maintenance and best practices are important to ensure its longevity.

The following four bladder tank equipment accessories will help you get the most from your bladder tank, prepare for emergency situations, and protect your tank long term.

1. Ground Cloth for Tank and Ground Protection

Whether your collapsible tank is situated outdoors or indoors, it's important to protect the bladder tank to avoid punctures. Our protection fabric defends the pillow tank from abrasion on rough concrete or ground conditions.

Ground cloths are typically made from vinyl or PVC-coated fabrics, depending on the material of your tank. A variety of fabric thicknesses and weight are available for different liquids and ground conditions.

Each ground cloth can be specifically designed to fit the size of your collapsible bladder, to ensure the proper coverage and protection. A second cloth can even be used on top as a protection cover.

When it's time to set up your water bladder with the ground cloth, the first step is to clear the area. If placed indoors, clean the floor of dirt and trash. For bare ground, all rocks, twigs, and other outdoor debris should be cleared away and the ground leveled to ensure a suitable area for the bladder tank. Spread out the ground cloth where you want the pillow tank to rest, and then place the bladder tank centered on top.

2. Containment Berm for Spill Containment and Protection

Your pillow tank is on the ground cloth and ready to be filled. But now you’re worried about what could happen if it rips or tears. How can you contain any leakage and prevent a mess?

Placing the bladder in a containment berm can keep any leaks or spills from spreading beyond the initial placement area.

The aluminum angle containment berm has 1-foot walls to provide a large spill area in the event of a large accident. Both standard and heavy duty brackets are available for extra support. Fabrics range from PVC to Elvaloy, depending on the nature of the water bladder.

Similar to the ground cloth, each containment berm is specifically designed to fit the specifications of your tank equipment.

The berm isn’t a replacement for the ground cloth but an addition to your bladder protection system. The protection fabric is laid first with the containment berm on top. It still defends against abrasion, only for the berm now. Containment berms add an extra layer of protection against ground conditions and provide spill safety.

3. Tank Fittings for Best Use of Your Tank

In addition to protection supplies for your bladder tank, GEI Works also offers a wide range of materials and fitting types for most bladders.

There are a few questions you can ask to ensure you choose the proper fittings for your tank.

How are you planning to use your tank? Which pipes or hoses will connect? What are their sizes? What type of water flow do you need? Do you need to allow for a small or large volume of water? Do you need the water to stop at different intervals along the hose?

Proper tank fittings have a good seal during use, preventing leaks and spills.

Materials and Type of Tank Fittings

• PVC
• ON
• CPVC
• PP
• Fitting Types
• Ball Valves
• Bulkhead Fittings
• Manways
• Gauges and Adapters

If you need any help choosing the best fittings for your tank, contact our water tank specialists at 772-646-0597 or Contact Us.

4. Tank Repair Kits for Patching a Bladder Tank

Despite all your preparations, the worst has happened – a small leak has formed in your water bladder. Luckily, GEI Works has the solution.

Our tank repair kit contains all the necessary supplies to patch your bladder.

• Tank Fabric Patch
• Seam Roller
• Scissors
• Sandpaper
• Cement Glue
• Resealable Bag
• Patching Instructions

The process is deceptively simple.

Start by cutting the repair patch to cover the problem area with 2 inches available on each side. Clean and sand the area to ensure a good seal. Apply cement to the entire patch and repair section before attaching the patch in place. The seam roller prevents air bubbles and wrinkles from drying in place. Finally, apply more cement around the patch edges and allow it to dry completely.

Your collapsible bladder is ready for water again!

Remember These Bladder Tank Accessories

So remember, for the most effective use and protection of your collapsible tank, you need these bladder tank equipment accessories:

• Ground Cloth (for Tank and Ground Protection)
• Containment Berm (for Spill Containment)
• Tank Fittings (for Best Use and Experience Using Tank)
• Tank Repair Kit (for Patching and Preparing for Emergencies)

For help with these items, you can always contact our product specialists at 772-646-0597 or Contact Us today, and we will be happy to work with you.

See the entire collection of Collapsible Pillow Tanks and other bladder tank equipment available from GEI Works.

The Massive Sargassum Seaweed Bloom of 2018: What It Means and What To Do

Sargassum has been washing ashore on Caribbean beaches at record levels this year--nearly 3x the last record set in 2015.

Sargassum seaweed is an important ecosystem in the Atlantic Ocean, but it can be devastating to Caribbean beaches. Many beach resorts are suffering from an unprecedented invasion of sargassum, causing some to close their doors during the current summer season. Many of the communities now being affected by seaweed are still recovering from Hurricane Irma, so bringing back tourism dollars is especially critical.

So what can be done to help? There are several innovative possibilities, but before providing sargassum solutions, it’s important to understand more about sargassum.

The Good and the Bad of Sargassum

In the Sargasso Sea, an area in the Atlantic Ocean covering 2 million square miles, massive floating rafts of Sargassum provide food and shelter for many species of fish, shrimp, turtle, and crabs—some of them endangered species. In moderate amounts, Sargassum washes up on beaches, providing a source of food for wildlife, and helping protect the beach from wind and water erosion. 

However, excessive amounts of Sargassum can starve the coastal waters of oxygen, causing mass fish death, and preventing endangered sea turtles from nesting. Natural vegetation that lives on the ocean floor can also die off—the murky seaweed blocking the natural light plants need to thrive.

Efforts to remove the seaweed may risk destabilizing beaches causing erosion and crushing sea turtle nests. Therefore, most cleanup efforts require extra caution and intense manual labor and painstaking raking. As the seaweed washes onshore, it piles up and decays, which attracts invasive insects. It also releases a toxic gas called hydrogen sulfide. Many cleanup crews have experienced hydrogen sulfide poisoning from exposure to large amounts of decaying Sargassum with flu-like symptoms: nausea, headaches, and eye and skin irritation.

Hydrogen sulfide is also particularly corrosive, leading to rapid damage to A/C equipment, electrical systems, and plumbing in nearby areas. Schools, hotels and resorts, restaurants, and even sailing clubs have been seeing the effects of Sargassum reaching into their pockets. The invasive seaweed causes closures, lost tourism dollars, and requires ongoing cleanup throughout the summer months when Sargassum is flourishing.

What causes these massive seaweed blooms? Leading researcher Brian LaPointe of Florida Atlantic University states that “our research has found that nitrogen and phosphorus from land-based runoff and pollutants, including nitrogen-heavy fertilizers and sewage waste, are washing into rivers such as the Mississippi and the Amazon. This fuels sargassum growth.”

And grow it does. In 2015, the last record Sargassum bloom affected large swaths of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and even caused Mexico to deploy its military to deal with the issue.

Sargassum’s Record Breaking Influx and Impact to the Caribbean

The University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab analyzes satellite imagery to predict troublesome Sargassum blooms. 

In January, 2018, researchers detected an abnormal amount of Sargassum in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, predicting that 2018 would be a major year for Sargassum blooms. They were correct. In the chart, it is shown that as of June 2018, the Sargassum levels are nearly 3x the record breaking high of 2015.

The natural ocean currents help to predict where the sargassum will travel. 

Those currents have driven the sargassum right into the Caribbean, and along the Central American eastern coastline.

The effects on the environment and tourism industry this year have already been devastating. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States met recently to discuss the impact of Sargassum in the Windward Islands. Barbados’ National Conservation Commission has called their fight against Sargassum “a valiant battle,” as the seaweed inundates its northern, eastern, and southern coastlines. Jamaica’s government has allocated $5 million for the removal of Sargassum from its beaches. South Florida has also seen mass deposits of Sargassum, especially in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. 

On Martinique, incredible amounts of Sargassum have been choking local waterways. The French government is planning an intervention, allocating £3.5 million to supply some of its islands in the Caribbean with tractors, gas masks, and other equipment. On Martinique especially, piles of Sargassum have been responsible for mass fish death and even a school closure. On Grand Cayman, the Department of Environment asks to be consulted before any cleanup attempt, and have forbidden the use of heavy machinery without written consent. In Cayman Brac, sea turtle hatchlings were found entangled in masses of Sargassum, unable to reach the shore.

Unique Problems Call for Unique Solutions

GEI Works not only manufactures unique product solutions for environmental issues, we are continually learning about new methods and procedures for mitigating disasters like the Sargassum Bloom of 2018.

Clean beaches matter. In 2015, when the last record bloom struck the Caribbean, we sent a team to the Dominican Republic to learn more about the invasive seaweed while our production team worked overtime to construct a solution that could be immediately deployed. When sargassum is overwhelming your beach, immediate action is needed. GEI Works can quickly mobilize to get the fast answers that are needed.

We have worked with many beach resorts and communities in a variety of coastal locations. We help them with their emergency sargassum problems, providing the fast response they need to get the sargassum under control. The areas we have provided solutions to include:

• Antigua
• Turks & Caicos
• British Virgin Islands
• Grand Cayman
• Dominican Republic
• Belize
• Florida Keys
• New York
• Dania Beach
• And Many Others in the U.S. and the Caribbean

For Sargassum control, we usually recommend a sargassum containment boom or a permanent boom for longer-term containment. The booms work in calm or moving water, varying tidal conditions, and are built to withstand UV-exposure and extreme temperatures. Anchoring the entire structure is essential. Protect your investment with our full line of accessories for the booms, including anchoring kits. These help stabilize and support the boom and maximize effectiveness. 

The Orion Aquatic Plant and Containment Boom helps contain Sargassum blooms in three different ways.

• Deflection: use the Aquatic Plant Boom to keep Sargassum off the beach. This is particularly useful in coves or protected beaches. The containment boom floats on the surface of the water, allowing fish, sea turtles, and other marine life to pass underneath it.

• Diversion: use the Aquatic Plant Boom to deflect Sargassum from hotel and resort beaches to nearby beaches where it can be collected. Reduces the impact on the tourism industry.

• Containment: Use the containment boom to collect Sargassum in open water where it can be collected. 

Your project’s budget, specifications, requirements, and environmental conditions factor into the specific sargassum solution that’s right for you. That’s why we work with each client individually and consult global experts to help find the right solution for your needs. If you’re experiencing issues with Sargassum, we are interested in hearing from you. Rather than simply suggesting a product, we seek the right solutions! 

Contact GEI Works to receive help and to discuss your Sargassum issues at +1-772-646-0597.