<strong>RISE</strong> Magazine Holding back the flood Since the year 2000, over 4 million people have been affected by flood in Europe. In England alone, about 3.8 million properties are at risk <strong>of</strong> surface water flooding. We need water to work, clean, flourish and function, but what do we do when we have too much water and we experience flooding in our towns and villages such as Cockermouth, which has been badly hit in the last two years? Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Miklas Scholz, Chair in Civil Engineering and Director <strong>of</strong> the Civil Engineering Research Centre (CERC), from the School <strong>of</strong> Computing, Science and Engineering here at the <strong>University</strong>, working with colleagues on a new European research project which aims to boost flood defences by better using reservoirs, may just have the answer. Civil Engineers at The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Salford</strong> are calling for owners <strong>of</strong> water bodies such as water companies and local authorities to boost the UK’s flood defences by using our extensive network <strong>of</strong> reservoirs to take up excess water during heavy rainfall. The team <strong>of</strong> researchers have surveyed hundreds <strong>of</strong> sites in Germany, England and Scotland, which are either abandoned or full to the brim, and suggest that for little or no extra cost, a capacity <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> gallons could be added to absorb high water levels. In the case <strong>of</strong> full reservoirs, the researchers discovered that there is little need to operate them at full capacity during the wettest months, so that by keeping them less full, there is room for heavy rainfall run<strong>of</strong>f to be stored, whilst also reducing the pressure placed on dams by having constantly full reservoirs. By bringing back old reservoirs into use upstream more green spaces can be used for other purposes than flood control downstream Members <strong>of</strong> CERC from the School <strong>of</strong> Computing, Science & Engineering have also looked at hundreds <strong>of</strong> sites in Scotland’s Central Belt, which have been abandoned by Scottish Water, because they are obsolete, too small or have become too polluted to store drinking water. By bringing these back into operation, they would have the capacity to absorb a huge amount <strong>of</strong> flood water. However, this would require a shift in the current reservoir management strategy. Some water companies currently sell smaller reservoirs to fishing clubs and members <strong>of</strong> the public to avoid being liable for them under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Right: Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Miklas Scholz overlooking a reservoir near Pitlochry, Scotland Current small-scale flood defences such as sustainable drainage systems and flood defence walls are expensive for local authorities and property developers to build and maintain by bringing back old reservoirs into use upstream more green spaces can be used for other purposes than flood control downstream. The added capacity will also help to reduce pollution from agricultural and industrial run<strong>of</strong>f. Miklas, who is leading this research at the <strong>University</strong>, said “In the area around Perth, we found that <strong>of</strong> 40 reservoirs, only two were in use for drinking water production, by using the other 38 for flood control, we can save lives and millions <strong>of</strong> pounds on reduced flood damage and on building new flood defences and sustainable drainage systems further downstream in the catchment”. At the heart <strong>of</strong> the research is the mathematical categorisation <strong>of</strong> water bodies using the European Union-funded Sustainable Flood Retention Basin Concept developed by Miklas and his research team at CERC. Bodies <strong>of</strong> water are assessed on 55 variables such as Engineered, Mean Flooding Depth, Maximum Flood Water Volume, Managed Mean Flooding Depth and Managed Maximum Flood Water Volume. The latter two compound variables are novel and essential in identifying the under-utilised flood control potential <strong>of</strong> former and current water supply reservoirs. The data are then applied to create risk maps, which can be used by authorities for planning and flood control purposes. This novel methodology also helps to produce reliable flood risk management maps more cost-effectively and rapidly. Miklas’ proposed geostatistical methodology will aid stakeholder communication by delivering information to planners and authorities regarding the most favourable locations for Sustainable Flood Retention Basin development. Implementing this research as part <strong>of</strong> preparing reservoir flood plans and planning for new flood storage infrastructure now could save heartache, anguish and lives in the future. The Environment Agency and some water companies have taken a keen interest in discussing opportunities on how to implement this research into practice. The most likely pathway to success is to lobby for changes to the Reservoirs Act 1975, which traditionally puts more importance on drinking water provision than on flood control. Legislation needs to recognize the need for flood storage to be used to compensate for effects <strong>of</strong> increased urbanisation and climate change. Name: Miklas Scholz Email: m.scholz@salford.ac.uk 18 | <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong>
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> | 19
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