Water Woes: Urban Flooding

"Climate change is a story about water. Too much, too little, at the wrong time." - Jesse Scott

In an earlier post, I mentioned how the frequency of extreme heat and extreme precipitation events will likely be the hallmark of climate change. Recently, I've been talking about the benefit of green roofs and shading on the urban heat island. Now I would like to speak to extreme precipitation.



Flooding in Accra, Ghana this past June left over 150 dead. This number comes 
from both those who drowned and the who died in a petrol station fire that
was offering shelter. Source: Africa News Today

One of the most devastating results of extreme precipitation is the flooding that comes with it. In some developing African countries, floodplains are home to the most vulnerable poor due to the affordability the come with dangerous lands. These floods are not just caused by sea-level rise. Floods that are the result of backed up drainage and pave surfaces are becoming more common. As temperatures rise so does the maximum water vapor content in  the area allowing to heavier rains than previously possible.

Current adaptation strategies in these areas include weighing down possessions with bricks and sitting on the highest dresser with your family until flood levels recede. This is unacceptable in the 21st century. Communities need, at the bare minimum, (improved) drainage systems and waste disposal services, to prevent the drainage from getting backed up. I will not be covering the logistics of hooking these areas up to local disposal services. Instead, I will focus on sustainable drainage systems proposed for London that may help worldwide.