Getting Ready for Groundwater Flooding
The clocks have changed and we are now firmly into autumn with winter fast approaching. Who can tell what this forthcoming winter will bring especially as the Environment Agency estimates that around 5 million people will be at risk from flooding this year.
Groundwater flooding when it does occur, like all forms of flooding, can be very traumatic for affected customers and can cause significant damage to properties.
As a leading proponent of relation hydraulic modelling and flood alleviation for a wide range of clients we are well placed to assist you in dealing with your flooding problems. With our core skills of advanced computer simulation modelling of the hydraulic behaviour of sewer networks, watercourses and flooding in the urban environment we are in a unique position of being able to simulate all flooding processes.
If we can assist you in dealing with your flooding issues and concerns please contact us now on 01444 401840
5 Million Properties still at Risk
Without doubt the persistent and extensive flooding in many parts of the UK last year was record breaking. Countless people were affected and some are still counting the cost.
The Environment Agency (EA) estimates that around 5 million properties in England alone are at risk of flooding. This shows an increase from their updated flood risk maps published just before Christmas 2013 which indicated that approx. 3 million properties were at risk of surface water flooding.
Groundwater flooding: who is responsible for dealing with it?
After the disastrous 2007 floods, the government commissioned the Pitt Review to undertake a full and detailed review to ensure it didn’t happen again. One of the recommendations was that the appropriate bodies should adopt a risk based approach to flood defence and mitigation. On a positive note many of the recommendations are now embedded in primary legislation, namely the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). Responsibilities of the various bodies were laid down and the upper tier Local Authorities became Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) with added responsibilities amongst other things for groundwater flooding.
However, although Pitt recommended a dedicated cabinet committee on flooding, this has now been disbanded and its final progress report on the review in January 2012, showed that more than half the 92 recommendations were uncompleted.
Groundwater flooding: what is it and how does it differ from surface water flooding?
Quite simply surface water flooding occurs when the drainage systems are unable to deal with the volume of rainfall falling on the catchment, whereas groundwater flooding occurs when the aquifers (water bearing rock) are full or high river/sea levels cause groundwater to backflow through the adjoining strata.
On April 4th 2014 the Environment agency produced an overview plan, which shows there are still many areas suffering from this flooding mechanism.
Flooding from groundwater is quite complex and is probably less well understood than other forms of flooding. In addition some properties may be at risk from a number of different types of flooding i.e. groundwater, surface water etc.
State of the art techniques to help with flooding problems
As a leading proponent of relation hydraulic modelling and flood alleviation for a wide range of clients we are well placed to assist you in dealing with your flooding problems. With our core skills of advanced computer simulation modelling of the hydraulic behaviour of sewer networks, watercourses and flooding in the urban environment we are in a unique position of being able to simulate all flooding processes.
UAVs get closer to the Problem
The location and extent of groundwater flooding and hence the risk from flooding can be difficult to establish. We also have a range of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which can be used to locate and map the extent of groundwater flooding and hence enable customers and clients to properly assess the risk of flooding to their properties. Take a look at our Remote Aerial Surveys website to find out more
Getting the community onside
When resolving flooding issues it is vital that the local community is engaged and working with you so we can also offer practical advice on dealing with flooding issues and engaging with local communities.
Without doubt the persistent and extensive flooding in many parts of the UK was record breaking. Countless people were affected and some are still counting the cost.
If we can assist you in dealing with your flooding issues and concerns please contact us now on 01444 401840