Effective Flood Prevention Measures for Urban Areas

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Because every urban area is unique, ideal flood control strategies will vary from city to city.

Measures to Prevent Flooding In Urban Areas That Work

No business owner in Boca Raton, FL, wants to endure water damage from a flood, but no community is immune from this potential disaster. Significant rainfall can overwhelm drainage and sewage systems and result in high water levels in rivers, lakes and other waterways. Because flood cleanup and restoration endeavors can be costly, every city should employ effective flood prevention measures to protect the interests and wellbeing of the entire community.

Because every urban area is unique, ideal flood control strategies will vary from city to city. Fortunately, a variety of methods exist to help stop flooding.

1. Levees, Dikes and Dams

For towns and cities located near large bodies of water, constructing a levee, dike or dam may be an efficient way to minimize or control high water levels. You can, for example, build a dam across a lake to retain and release water as necessary.

To prevent water from overflowing a river’s banks and inundating the surrounding land, you can utilize levees and dikes, which are embankments built along the water source. Although typically efficient flood prevention measures, dikes and levees can fail under extreme conditions, such as a strong hurricane. For this reason, communities that utilize these measures should also employ additional safeguards to help stop flooding.

2. Drainage Channels and Detention Basins

Drainage channels and detention basins can also help reduce an urban area’s flood risk by providing designated areas for water to flow away from streets, homes and businesses. Detention basins also temporarily store water, helping to reduce the rate of runoff into the storm sewer. This may prevent the system from becoming inundated.

3. Separate Rainwater and Sewer Water Pipes

Recognizing that excessive rainfall can overwhelm the sewer system, some urban communities are updating their infrastructure and providing separate pipes for rainwater and sewer water. This technique may help prevent damage and enhance the city’s water management capacity.

High water levels can severely damage homes and businesses. To provide peace of mind to both residents and business owners, every urban area should have well-designed and efficient mechanisms in place to manage water levels and help prevent flooding.