Urban drainage

• ·         11% of London is at medium to high risk of flooding according to the Environmental Agency.

  ·         In July 2021, heavy rain events lead to flooding, resulting in 120 Kensington and Chelsea residents evacuating their homes. This was a result of urban flash flooding.

  ·         Basement apartments in London are common and building values are high, which makes the impacts of flooding worse.

  ·         Blocked drains, aging drainage systems, and impermeable surfaces are main human causes.
• Hard Engineering Solutions

  Thames Embankment was built in 1865. It involved narrowing the river and increasing the height of the embankment. It included a connected sewage and drainage network that would drain into the river from around the city. However, it is now getting very old and is out dated
• Soft Engineering Strategies

  ·         River Restoration:

  o   There are over 600km worth of waterbodies in London!

  o   Across 111 projects, 39km worth of rivers have been restored in London, including over 18ha of wetlands created.
• · SUDS:

  o   SUDS are increasing in London and there are plenty of examples to choose from:

  o   Green roofs and gardens in Elephant Park

  o   Permeable paving was used for the car parks near the Olympic Park in Stratford.

  In Derbyshire Street, Tower Hamlets they’ve used permeable paving, rain gardens, green roofs, and swales. As a result, no water goes into the sewage system!