Creative thinking needed to tackle growing threat of urban flooding

By Tom Webster 2021-11-09T05:19:00

Surface water flooding not only affects infrastructure and property, it can also cause loss of life. As we focus on refurbishing and refitting existing buildings, we should take the problem more seriously

On 25 July 2021 5cm of rain fell on London in just over an hour. Flash flooding from surface water sewers closed two hospitals with patients needing to be evacuated. Cars were stranded, Tube stations were forced to close and homeowners had sewage enter their homes.

Climate change is changing the nature of rainfall. We are seeing more intense periods during the summer months and this is something with which our current aged sewer systems in urban centres cannot cope.

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