Transcription of Flooding from groundwater
1 Flooding fromgroundwaterPractical advice to help you reducethe impact of Flooding from groundwaterWe are the Environment Agency. It s our job to makepeople aware of Flooding from rivers and the sea, provide flood warning services and build and maintainflood defences. In some areas we can also provide floodwarning services for Flooding from groundwater . This leaflet contains useful information to help youreduce the effects of Flooding on you and your you live in an area that could be affected by floodingfrom groundwater then this guide is for you. It containsuseful information to help you reduce the impact ofgroundwater Flooding on your propertyThe LGA welcomes the advice provided in thisinformation leafletPublished by:Environment AgencyHorizon HouseDeanery Rd, Bristol, BS10 6 BFTel: 03708 506 506*Email: Environment Agency All rights reserved.
2 This document may be reproduced with prior permission of the Environment September 2011* Calls to 03 numbers cost nomore than a national rate call toan 01 or 02 number and mustcount towards any inclusiveminutes in the same way as 01and 02 calls. These rules apply tocalls from any type of lineincluding mobile, BT, other fixedline or AgencyFlooding from Groundwater3 The most common sources of floodingare: river Flooding . coastal Flooding . surface water Flooding . reservoir Flooding . Flooding from groundwater . This leaflet is about Flooding fromgroundwater. For more informationabout other forms of Flooding , pleasevisit our website ( ). Flooding from groundwater canhappen when the level of water within the rock or soil that makes upthe land surface (known as the watertable) rises. The level of the watertable changes with the seasons due to variations in long term rainfall andwater the water table rises andreaches ground level, water starts toemerge on the surface and floodingcan happen.
3 There are some key features offlooding from groundwater : Flooding will usually occur days oreven weeks after heavy orprolonged rainfall. Flooding may occur for a long time,often lasting several weeks. The water doesn t always appearwhere you would expect it to ( bottoms). It may alsoemerge on hillsides. Water may rise up through floors rather than coming inthrough doors. Flooding from groundwater is mostcommon in areas where theunderlying bed rock is chalk, but it can also happen in locations withsand and gravel in the river valleys. If you live in an area that could beaffected by Flooding from groundwaterthen this guide is for you. It containsuseful information to help you reducethe impact of groundwater Flooding toyour fromgroundwaterFloods can happen anywhere and at anytime. 4 Environment AgencyFlooding from GroundwaterIf you are still unsure whether yourhome is at risk you may wish to carryout a flood risk assessment.
4 To dothis, you will need to contact aprofessional such as a consultingengineer or chartered surveyor. Your flood warning serviceThe Environment Agency isresponsible for providing warnings for Flooding from rivers and the sea. Insome areas we also provide messagesabout Flooding from groundwater . Our free service can send youmessages by phone, email, textmessage or fax when a flood isexpected in your area. Floodline can also give you practicalflooding advice and a Quickdialnumber to help you easily accessinformation on Flooding in your Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs)have powers to carry out riskmanagement activities associatedwith Flooding from groundwater . YourLLFA is either the unitary authority orthe county council for your area. LLFA swork with other organisations,including the Environment Agency, tomanage this risk. If you would likefurther information about floodingfrom groundwater you should contactyour Lead Local Flood are no flood risk maps forgroundwater.
5 If you want to find out if your property could be at risk offlooding from groundwater or mayhave flooded in the past you shouldcontact your Lead Local FloodAuthority. It they do not have anyinformation on Flooding fromgroundwater in your area you may findit helpful to contact one of thefollowing: your local Environment Agencyoffice. your parish or town council. the Highways Authority. any flood wardens or Flood ActionGroups in your you at risk?Mapping the risk of Flooding from groundwater is complex and is currently not possible. To find out if the service isavailable in your area, callFloodline on 0845 988 1188or visit our website( ).Environment AgencyFlooding from Groundwater5 Know your flood codesWhat it meansFlooding is possible. Be to do: Be prepared to act on your flood plan. Prepare a flood kit of essentialitems.
6 Check pumps and any other flood protection equipment you may have. Keep an eye on local water levelsand weather conditions. Visit theEnvironment Agency website( )for Flooding it means Flooding is expected. Immediate action requiredWhat to do: Protect yourself, your family and help others. Move family, pets and valuables to a safe place. Keep a flood kit ready. If you have a pump, make sure it is working. Keep an eye on local water levelsand weather conditions. Visit theEnvironment Agency website( )for Flooding need to be aware of Flooding and keep an eye on the water levels and weather in your area. You can findinformation on our website or by listening to local newsand weather AgencyFlooding from Groundwater1. Know who to contact and how. Agree where you will go and howto contact each other Check with your council if petsare allowed at evacuationcentres Keep a list of all your importantcontacts to Think about what you can movenow.
7 Don t wait for a flood. Moveitems of personal value such asphoto albums, family films andtreasured mementos to a forfloodingStart preparing today before a flood happens. Use this checklist as your flood plan. 3. Think about what you would wantto move to safety during a flood. pets cars furniture electrical equipment garden pot plants and furniture what else? Think about who you could ask forhelp and who you could offer tohelp particularly vulnerableneighbours or relatives in the event of a AgencyFlooding from Groundwater74. Check your insurance cover. Check your buildings andcontents insurance policy. Confirm you are covered forflooding. Find out if the policy replacesnew for old, and if it has a limiton repairs. Don t underestimate the value of your Know how to turn off your gas,electricity and water mainssupplies.
8 Ask your supplier how to do this. Mark taps or switches withstickers to help you Prepare a flood kit of essentialitems and keep it handy. Copies of your home insurance documents. A torch with spare batteries. A wind-up or battery radio. Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets. A first aid kit and prescriptionmedication. Bottled water and non-perishable foods. Baby food and baby care can get more information about preparing for floodingin our What to do before, during and after a flood leafleton our website ( ). You canalso find more information and a template for creating yourown flood plan on our AgencyFlooding from GroundwaterPreventing water from entering your propertyMany traditional methods of floodprotection, such as sandbags, maynot be effective against Flooding fromgroundwater. This is because watercan come up through the floor andremain high for a long time.
9 Instead,you may need to consider pumpingwater to protect your property. The most effective way to keepgroundwater out of your property is touse a drainage or pump system todivert the water away from your homeor business. However, in some casesthere may be too much water andeven pumping may not be work best when the inlet isinstalled in a sump (a low point intowhich water can drain). Pumping islikely to be required over many days,weeks or can be electric or petrol/dieseldriven. Electric pumps may be themost convenient but remember thereis a chance of power cuts during aflood. You may need to consider aback up generator. Care must be takenif a mains powered electric pump isused during a flood. You shouldcontact a qualified electrician forfurther advice. Petrol or diesel pumps are possiblealternatives but can be noisier andwill require refuelling.
10 This can be aproblem as Flooding from groundwatercan often last for many weeks or evenmonths. Position the generatoroutside in the open air as generatorsproduce carbon monoxide fumeswhich can will also need to consider whereyou will pump water to. Pumping fromone place to another may causeflooding elsewhere. You must notpump water into the public foul pump out water when floodlevels outside your property start tobe lower than inside. This reduces therisk of structural damage. It may alsobe worth you contacting a structuralengineer before pumping very deepwater from your propertyFlooding from groundwater can affect ground floors, cellars, basements and AgencyFlooding from Groundwater9A good quality pump should lastaround 10 years. However, thisdepends on how often it is used andthe acidity and dirtiness of the water. Regularly check and test your pump.
