KEY ISSUES

What is a Flood?
Why do they Occur?
Problems of Flooding
Flood Prevention and
the Work of the
Environment Agency
No. 1 in a series of Educational Fact Sheets
RIVER FLOODING
RIVER FLOODING
1. What is a Flood?
A flood is a natural event that can have far reaching effects on
people and the environment. It is caused by a combination of
factors, not just heavy rainfall. Rainfall might drain from the land,
creating streams and rivers, or sink into the ground to refill
aquifers (natural underground reservoir).
2. Why do Floods Occur?
HUMAN FACTORS PHYSICAL FACTORS
Concrete surfaces Impermeable rock
Farming methods Heavy rainfall
Flood plain development Lack of vegetation
Flooding of River Nenenear Wisbech
A weedboat
Aquifers are layers of porous rock, such as chalk, with many small
holes or pores that can fill with water, forming underground
reservoirs. When heavy rain occurs, there may be too much water
for the porous rock to absorb, so it will lie on the surface. Water
will also lie on the surface if it is impermeable (it does not allow
water to pass through). Clay is an example of an impermeable
rock. As the natural landscape is developed, it is covered by
buildings and roads, which are impermeable surfaces. Rainwater
cannot easily soak into the ground in developed areas which can
lead to an increased risk of flooding during heavy rain.
The Anglian Region of the Environment Agency is at particular
risk of flooding since much of the underlying rock is impermeable
clay. This is made worse by the fact that 4,700 square kilometres
is actually below sea level and in recent years there have been
many examples of severe flooding.
3. Problems of Flooding
Floodwater can be very dangerous - people have been swept
away and killed as well as many farm animals. It can cause great
damage to property and its contents, and can severely disrupt
transport and communications links. If the flooding occurs in an
important commercial area, such as a town centre, trade can be
badly affected.
4. Flood Prevention and the Work
of the Environment Agency
One of the aims of the Agency is to protect people and their
property from flooding. In the Anglian Region, the Agency
provides effective defence against flooding for 5.7 million people
and their property. Each year approximately 52 million is spent
on flood defences in the region, of which half is for new works
and half is for maintenance of existing flood defences. The
regions Flood Defence Department has the responsibility for
maintaining 5,775 km of river defences. Its function can be
broken down into the following areas:
Prevention - advice on controlling developments that may
increase the danger of flooding or be in areas prone to
flooding.
Defence - building flood protection structures.
Operations - maintaining and operating flood defences and
the monitoring of river flow.
Warning - forecasting and issuing flood warnings.
PREVENTION
The population of the region is increasing, leading to more
severe pressure on the environment. The Agency aims to protect
the environment from possible damage from new developments,
to protect any of these developments from flooding and to
reduce flood risk for existing property. In order to avoid new
Flooding affects peoples homes
flooding problems the Agency is consulted by local planning
authorities before permission is given for any new development.
These include the construction of new buildings and roads. Each
year the Anglian Region of the Agency is consulted on
approximately 13,000 planning applications. The Agency would
generally resist any new development on areas liable to flooding,
such as homes being built on flood plains (areas of flat land next
to a river). They would also resist any development that would
greatly affect the natural water cycle. These include bridges and
weirs, as they prevent the natural flow of water in a river, and
large car parks that stop rainwater sinking into the ground.
Flooding was welcomed in the past since it allowed fertile
alluvium and silt to be deposited on the land, but then some
farmers built drainage channels to prevent flooding, so increasing
the amount of land able to be farmed. Unfortunately, this
stopped the soil from receiving the nutrients in the alluvium and
forced the farmer to use artificial fertilizers. Pumping stations
were also used to either pump water directly into the sea or back
up into the higher reaches of a river. However in recent years,
there has been a move towards stopping this practice, as
flooding is encouraged in some areas. This allows the land to
revert to its natural environment, such as on the Ouse Washes.
DEFENCE
Although flooding can never be totally prevented, the Agency
continues to develop new schemes to reduce the risk of flooding
by, for example, regulating the flow of rivers - when there is too
much water, the Agency will seek to reduce the flow. This can be
done in several ways, including:
Flood storage reservoirs. During heavy rainfall, the extra
water will be held back in temporary lakes behind dams
(artificial barriers) whenever the flow exceeds the channel
capacity. This water can then be released at a controlled
rate in order to prevent flooding (eg near Milton Keynes on
the River Ouse).
Relief channels. In effect, another river channel is built, able
to take excess water when the main channel is full (eg the
Great Ouse relief channel between Denver and Kings
Lynn).
Dredging. This causes the shape of the river channel to be
changed. It is made deeper and/ or wider. This takes place
in most rivers in the region in an environmentally sensitive
way. New works are needed because of increased
urbanisation, which leads to more rapid run-off, meaning
that previously acceptable channels have needed further
improvement.
Dredging in operation
Did you know?
Most of the worlds population
lives on flood plains.
The Environment Agency has a
target for those affected to be
warned where practicable two
hours before flooding occurs
and issues information on what
action to take in the event of a
flood.
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OPERATIONS
Environment Agency staff work constantly measuring the amount
of water flowing in the river. This is done automatically at
gauging stations and by staff in times of emergency (such as
extreme heavy rainfall or during flooding), so that warnings can
be issued and action taken to reduce damage from flooding.
Maintenance of existing flood defences is essential. Activities
include weedcutting which helps to ensure water is able to flow
uninterrupted through the river channel, so reducing the risk of
flooding. Agency staff also work, where necessary, to maintain
raised river banks, keeping the river in a defined channel. In the
event of river floods occurring, Agency staff will take emergency
action. This may include using sandbags to raise the riverbank
and contain the excess water in the channel, clearing blockages
in river channels, or opening sluice gates (to enable floodwater to
drain away quickly). If the river breaches the riverbank, they may
also build emergency dams to contain the water.
WARNING
The Agency uses information, such as that from measuring, to
assist the operation of the flood warning system. Flood defence
staff constantly monitor weather conditions, in particular rainfall
figures, river flow data and tidal levels to determine where floods
may occur, the severity of the flood and the extent of areas that
may be affected. Information is gathered using data from the
Meteorological Office weather radar stations, gauging stations
and other sources. This information is sent to the Area offices,
where staff decide the level of risk and, if necessary, issue flood
warnings. There are also automatic sensors that will alert Agency
staff of exceptionally high levels of water in the river channel. The
Agency issues the following warnings to the Emergency Services,
local authorities and the public:
Published by the Public Relations
Department of the Environment
Agency, Anglian Region,
Kingfisher House, Orton Goldhay,
Peterborough PE2 5ZR.
Telephone (01733) 371811.
Other education factsheets in the series:-
1. RIVER FLOODING
2. COASTAL FLOODING
3. THE WATER CYCLE
4. POLLUTION
5. WASTE CONTROL
6. USES OF THE WATER
ENVIRONMENT
7. ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
8. CONSERVATION
This Factsheet may be copied for
educational purposes
www.environment-
agency.gov.uk
www.environment-
agency.wales.gov.uk
Haveyou seen
our Web Site?
Activities
How would you illustrate each of
the flood warnings? Draw a set of
diagrams which you think people
will understand.
Describe what you would do at
home if you heard there was a
severe flood warning.
Write a letter to your local
newspaper about a flooding
incident near your home or school.
How has this affected your home
and your local community?
Questions
What are the natural and human
causes of flooding? What can we
do to reduce the human causes?
Flooding possible. Be aware! Be prepared!
Watch out!
Flooding expected affecting homes,
businesses and main roads. Act now!
All Clear. There are no Flood Watches or
Warnings in force. Water levels receding.
Check all is safe to return. Seek advice.
Severe flooding expected. Imminent danger
to life and property. Act now!