The chance (probability) of flooding can be reduced through operating and maintaining control structures and defences. These are sometimes known as 'hard' defences.
Control structures include weirs, sluices and pumping stations. These control the flow of water.
Flood defences also include embankments, walls and groynes. Some defences may only be brought into operation when a high tide or flood is forecast or in progress. An example is the Thames Barrier in London.
Every year about £150 million is spent on improving existing defences in England and Wales.
The flood barriers at Bewdley are a successful example of an engineering solution to flooding. However the barriers do nothing to reduce the risk of flooding in the catchment as a whole.
So in the longer term there is a change towards more natural methods of dealing with floodwater using 'soft' defences including wetlands and saltmarshes. These places provide space for floodwater and prevent flooding from occurring elsewhere. At the same time, these methods can benefit wildlife by providing more habitat and they require less investment and maintenance.
Bewdley Case Study: Engineering Solutions
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3 Comments
Steve Ritson
Guest
22:20 - 29/04/11
Who can I contact regarding a flood defense system which I have developed over several years - one which I haven't come across , yet I believe van be hugely successful? Steve.Ritson@hotmail.co.uk - many thanks.
GA Member
10:26 - 03/05/11
Hi Steve
I think you're probably best getting in touch with the Environment Agency, they should be able to give you some further advice.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Best wishes,
Anne
GA Website Manager
Glen
Guest
11:57 - 06/06/11
Does anyone know how effective the Pumlumon project in the Severns upper catchment is likely to be in reducing flooding further down the river, once the peat bogs have been re-wet will there be a point at which they are too saturated to hold any more water thus eventually having the same amount of run-off as before.
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