How Do Cities Prevent Flooding?

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

How Do Cities Keep Floods At Bay?

Urban planners and hydrologists around the world use a variety of methods to manage high water levels. Some of the following methods may be helpful for managing heavy rains or rising bodies of water in Louisville, CO.

Barriers, Dams, Gates and Levees

Some of the most common urban flood prevention methods involve controlling the rise and flow of bodies of water. A variety of methods are used on coasts, rivers and lakes:

• Barriers, self-closing or manual
• Dams, with or without conservation storage
• Tide gates
• Levees

These options are suited for different bodies of water. Barriers and dams are both used on inland waterways, whereas levees and tide gates tend to be situated in estuaries or sloughs.

Diversion Canals and Floodways

Flood control channels may be useful for cities that regularly experience heavy rainfall. A channel or canal can divert high water to several locations:

• Man-made channels
• Temporary holding ponds
• Other bodies of water

These methods can direct water away from developed areas toward locations less likely to be harmed by flooding. These channels may run on the surface in basins or underground.

Flood Plains and Rain Gardens

Groundwater replenishment by diversion is a stormwater management method that is increasingly being implemented in environmentally-conscious cities. Rain gardens function by slowing down the pace of drainage, whereas floodplain restoration projects may aim to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater and restore aquatic ecosystems.

Cities around the world rely on these methods to stop flooding. The most important factors to consider include the source and patterns of high water levels. If a commercial property is located on a floodplain in Louisville, CO, the owner should obtain flood insurance coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program or in the form of an endorsement to a commercial property insurance policy. This coverage is necessary to restore damage caused by flooding, which is excluded from most property policies.