After Storm Henk became the most recent weather event to issue multiple flood warnings in the UK, and subsequent calls for improved attenuation, ACO Technologies is urging infrastructure and civil engineers to make floodwater management a high priority for 2024.
The flooding caused by Storm Henk required the closure of several roads in Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Derbyshire as well as halting several rail services. According to the Government’s report, Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) in the UK: 2023: “The frequency and magnitude of flooding events is projected to increase in the UK … Increased flooding will mean that people and properties, health and social care facilities, transport lines and schools will become at risk of flooding.”
ACO’s StormBrixx solution for stormwater management, attenuation and soakaway issues
As the UK can expect flooding to worsen in the coming years, ACO is calling on engineers to prepare for the challenges now. This includes an increased focus on maintenance of existing drainage systems and taking a long-term view when planning new projects.
Rob Butcher, Design Services Manager at ACO, said: “Regular maintenance of drainage channels is a vital part of any flood mitigation plan because, if your drains are blocked, you don’t have drains. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how well a drainage scheme has been designed; if it’s full of silt it won’t perform as required during heavy rainfall.”
For future projects, the planning stages should incorporate solutions to mitigate more frequent flooding, ACO advises. To assist with this, engineers can use modelling software tools for project design and testing of flood and storm scenarios. Specialised tools such as ACO’s QuAD Hydraulic Design 2.0, which is available for free, can assist in drainage design by offering in-depth tools such as flood resilience testing and maintenance regimes for the surface water channels. The software supports those involved in drainage design with fast and accurate calculations to help them create drainage systems that will be safe, effective and long-lasting.
Rob continued: “This is ultimately an ongoing challenge about attenuation. New projects should have solutions in place that restrict the egress of surface water from the site. Solutions such as ACO’s StormBrixx, which is designed with stormwater management, attenuation and soakaway in mind, should be considered from the very beginning of a project. Without proper surface water management, there may be broader flooding implications in the surrounding areas.”
