Some of the largest UK-wide retailers, including B&Q and Homebase, have taken it upon themselves to relieve strain on local councils caused by flooding, according to flood product manufacturer Gravitas International.

Early 2014 hit many homes and businesses with unprecedented levels of flooding, causing up to £1billion in damage in the UK alone.

The standard response to flooding in residential areas has always been the application of sandbags – an age-old product which has been used to protect homes and building from rising floodwaters for centuries.

A typical sandbag requires filling, transporting, implementing and subsequently removing from a flood area when needed, costing local councils, residents and businesses hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds.

Some of the UK’s largest retailers and wholesale organisations, who have in the past been reluctant to stock sandbags,  have now entered the marketplace to  provide more innovative flood protection products to the general public.

Gravitas International has developed the HydroSack and HydroSnake and is now distributing the products into B&Q, Homebase, Screwfix, Arco & Bunzl.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the HydroSnake weighs less than half a kilogram before use. Once in contact with water, the HydroSnake quickly expands and absorbs up to 20 litres and weighing up to 20kg. Once fully inflated, the HydroSnake becomes a watertight barrier, stopping any fluid or liquid passing through.

Once the Hydro-products have been used and are no longer needed, they can be simply cut open and have their contents raked into the earth. The pulp and super absorbent polymer (SAP) filling is ecofriendly and safe to dispose of by either landfill or incineration.

In the wake of recent floods and with the prospect of more to come, Gravitas said that Homebase, B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes have all taken the initiative to market and now sell the HydroSnake and HydroSack to homes and businesses across the UK.