Electro-Osmotic Pulse Technology

[jtstruct]

Hello Forum:

I briefly mentioned this is a previous thread, but I'd like to pursue this topic futher. A local company has patented rights to this waterproofing techonology that they call Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP). The science is not new (water flows from positive to negative charge), but apparetly the system, including the controls, is relatively new. The overall gist is that they install wire strips in 1" grooves cut into the floors and walls of a basement. The grooves are then grouted solid. Cathode rods are installed in the soil on the exterior of the building. A low pulse from a 110V power supply is emitted, causing the water in the "wet" basement to travel to the outside. Apparently the controls are adjusted so that they don't wick all of the moisture out of the walls resulting in bone-dry concrete.

They claim that this is a cost effective method since installing drains around the perimeter of the building, tearing up landscaping, etc. is not required. We have a proposal from them for a specific building that appears to support that it is a cost-effective solution. Of course, they tout the product as a "miracle" solution and have several case studies where it has worked perfectly.

My question(s) to you all is: have you used this type of technology before? I'm skeptical - what types of things should I be asking them? Do you all see any red flags with this application?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Focht3]

How bad is your water problem? What is the owner's position?



Please see FAQ731-376 by [blue]VPL[/blue] for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[jtstruct]

Focht3:

The owner in this case (and my employer) is a public university. They have had this problem in the past and are looking to find an easier and less expensive fix. This building in particular has had a long history of water problems (inches of standing water at times), and the water appears to be penetrating from many sources - walls, slab, windows, etc. Clearly the EOP would not work for all of the sources and some additional repairs would have to be made. The University is interested in pursing this as a possible test case - if it works well, then it can be used in the future. There are several basements around campus that are damp - not necessarily standing water, but very humid with moisture leaking in - all a recipe to promote the mold scare, which they are trying deperately to abate.

 

[Focht3]

Given your situation, a test case is probably a good idea.

I have reservations about the 'pulse' part; I have always understood that the electro-osmotic function required a steady DC current. But, as they say, the proof is in the pudding...

Do be aware of the long-term cost implications. What happens to the 50 year life cycle costs if the cost of electricity triples?



Please see FAQ731-376 by [blue]VPL[/blue] for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[cvg]

I would be cautious unless you are dealing with just nuisance moisture. Once the water is "wicked" through to the outside, where does it go? Unless you provide a drain or a pump, it stands there continuing to exert hydrostatic pressure on the concrete basement walls, looking for any crack to penetrate. What about power outages? Do you need a generator to power the unit to prevent flooding?