While fiberglass Flumes have become the norm due to their relatively low cost, corrosion resistance, and light weight, Flumes can be made out of a number of different materials, including:
- Aluminum (surface water)
- Galvanized steel (irrigation / surface water)
- Stainless steel (industrial / mining)
- Lexan (laboratory / small flows)
- PVC (industrial / small flows)
- Concrete (large suface water flows)
- Wood (temporary surface water flows)
So long as the Flume under operation is of the correct dimensions (wood swells when wet), is installed correctly, and is watertight, material choice is then a matter of cost, available materials, and installation effort required.
Image Credits: Colorado State University, Youtube