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Flood Risks To London

Flooding in London could occur due to tidal surges exceeding the capacity of tidal defenses, intense rainfall exceeding drainage systems, or failures of reservoirs and water mains. The impacts of flooding would be huge, potentially filling 38 underground stations with water, damaging 8 power stations, 16 hospitals, 400 schools, and 500,000 properties. This would cause major economic disruption and leave damaged homes uninhabitable while hindering emergency services.

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Robert White
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48 views1 page

Flood Risks To London

Flooding in London could occur due to tidal surges exceeding the capacity of tidal defenses, intense rainfall exceeding drainage systems, or failures of reservoirs and water mains. The impacts of flooding would be huge, potentially filling 38 underground stations with water, damaging 8 power stations, 16 hospitals, 400 schools, and 500,000 properties. This would cause major economic disruption and leave damaged homes uninhabitable while hindering emergency services.

Uploaded by

Robert White
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The following may also

Fluvial - due to freshwater


increase flood risk: sewage,
flows in a tributary that
water main burst,
exceeds the capacity of the
groundwater, and contained channel especially if
water, for example undefended or breached
reservoirs

Impacts of
flooding on
London

Tidal - overtopping of existing Surface water - usually as the


defences due to a severe storm result of intense rainfall in a
surge in the North Sea. Also if the summer thunderstorm that
tidal defences fail to operate exceeds the capacity of the
drainage system

The designers of the Thames Barrier claim that only a tidal surge severe enough to occur only
once in 1,000 years could currently flood London. However, this seemingly small risk is
increased due to climate change. In January 2003, the barrier had to be lowered a record 19
times to prevent flooding during heavy rains. The impact on Londoners would be huge: there
are 38 underground stations that could fill with water, eight power stations, 16 hospitals, 400
schools and 500,000 properties. This would also cause a huge amount of economic disruption
to businesses in the city. In addition, there could be sludgy water ponding in low lying areas,
damaged homes would not be inhabitable and services and emergency services would not be
able to function properly.

Floods can distribute large amounts of


Floodwater can seriously water and suspended sediment over
disrupt public and vast areas,
Personal transport by cutting Re-stocking valuable soil nutrients to
off roads and agricultural lands. In contrast, soil can
Railway lines, as well as be eroded by
communication Large amounts of fast flowing water,
Links when telephone lines are ruining crops, destroying agricultural
damaged. land / buildings
And drowning farm animals.

Impacts of
flooding on the
UK

Severe floods not only ruin


homes / businesses and destroy Floodwater can severely disrupt
personal property, but the public and
Water left behind causes further Personal transport by cutting off
damage to property and roads and railway
contents. The environment and Lines, as well as communication
Wildlife is also at risk when links when
damage when damage to Telephone lines are damaged.
businesses causes the accidental
Release of toxic materials like
paints, pesticides, gasoline etc.

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