{"id":6546,"date":"2018-11-15T09:33:46","date_gmt":"2018-11-15T09:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aquaread.com\/?p=6546"},"modified":"2023-11-15T11:44:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:44:25","slug":"why-surface-water-is-the-biggest-flood-risk-of-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aquaread.com\/blog\/why-surface-water-is-the-biggest-flood-risk-of-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Why surface water is the biggest flood risk of all"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we think of floods, we typically think of overflowing rivers and rising sea levels. These types of floods are common, but only for people who naturally live close to a river or the sea. Those that live in more urban areas, such as cities, typically don\u2019t consider flooding as a problem. Yet one type of flooding can actually affect those in more built-up areas far worse – surface water flooding.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is surface water flooding?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Have you ever walked home from work after a particularly rainy day to find a road completely covered in rainwater? Surface water flooding is this but on a much larger scale. When there is too much rain for drains to handle, it ends up on our roads and streets. While this can damage a cities infrastructure, the surface water can then end up damaging homes and businesses much like a more traditional flood can.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key difference is that if the rain is bad enough, surface water flooding can affect anywhere, meaning areas that aren\u2019t necessarily prepared or used to flooding can be hit without warning. The UK government reported back in October that over 3 million properties in England are at risk of surface water flooding. That\u2019s higher than those at risk from rivers and the sea (2.7 million).<\/span><\/p>\n

Urban areas with high-density housing and lots of concrete are actually the most susceptible to surface water flooding. \u00a0These areas generally lack large green areas which are good for absorbing rainwater. When rain hits pavements, parking spaces, and paved drives, the water isn\u2019t absorbed. Most of it may head to drains, but when there\u2019s too much, they can\u2019t cope and you get surface water floods.<\/span><\/p>\n

A brief history of surface water flooding<\/span><\/h2>\n

So just how common are surface water floods? Here in the UK, they aren\u2019t as common as more traditional floods, but they do still occur. In recent times, the <\/span>floods of 2013<\/span><\/a> left 13 people dead, 44,600 homes flooded and \u00a33bn in damage. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just the UK though. Last month, the flash floods that hit <\/span>Majorica<\/span><\/a> that killed two British nationals were also due to surface water flooding. <\/span><\/p>\n

Its unpredictability is what makes surface water flooding so dangerous. A coast flood can typically be predicted 2-5 days before it arrives. A river flood can be usually be dedicated within 12-48 hours. When it comes to surface water flooding, predicting its arrival can prove immensely difficult. We may be able to predict when rain is imminent, but where, how long and what the effects will be are questions far more difficult to answer before it arrives. <\/span><\/p>\n

So what can be done? <\/span><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s not to say governments aren\u2019t doing their part to help prevent and protect communities from surface water floods. In the UK, following the <\/span>Pitt <\/span><\/a>review, the government created the Flood and Water Management Act. <\/span><\/p>\n

This particular act helped set out the roles and responsibilities of particular groups in regards to flood risks. In particular, it created what is known as Lead Local Flood Authorities – particular councils that are responsible for managing flood risk in their area.<\/span><\/p>\n

From this, flood warning services have been created, meaning over 1.4 million people can receive warnings of floods to their mobile phones. There has also been an investment into flood barriers, pumps, incident response vehicles and staff. \u00a0An estimated \u00a32.6 billion will be spent on flood prevention by 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s also about putting power into ordinary people\u2019s hands. One such way is through the creation of Risk of Flooding from Surface Water <\/span>maps<\/span><\/a>. Anyone can access them online to check whether their home or area is at risk, measured as a very low, low, medium or high risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Helping predict a flood<\/span><\/h2>\n

Predicting when a surface water flood will occur is difficult – but it isn\u2019t impossible. Measuring water levels in key areas, such as in drains and basements can help alert you to when water levels are rising, allowing you to plan ahead to help limit the potential damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doing so typically requires what is known as an <\/span>Early Flood Warning System<\/span><\/a>. This small device can be installed in key areas to monitor water levels remotely. What\u2019s more, anyone with the device\u2019s number can text it to receive a reply with the water level and its rate of change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stansted Mountfitchet, a small village in Essex is an area that is at a high risk of flooding. They recently installed early flood warning devices to better prepare the community and give them more time to react<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interested in purchasing an early flood warning system<\/a> for yourself or for your community? Check out the <\/span>Leveline-EWS<\/span><\/a> here, or alternatively get in <\/span>contact <\/span><\/a>with us to find out more. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we think of floods, we typically think of overflowing rivers and rising sea levels. These types of floods are common, but only for people who naturally live close to a river or the sea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6547,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Surface Water Is The Biggest Flood Risk Of All<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Surface water flooding is not often considered a risk to cities. 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