Preventing Flooding in the South of England!?

Question

Does anyone have any ideas on ways to reduce or prevent future flooding during rain storms, and if Yes, then how would you propose doing this?

Answer 1

a vastly improved storm drain system similar to ones used in USA and Russia instead of ones used in England might help

Answer 2

If you/governments/drainage authorities had an infinite money supply it is theoretically possible to build a comprehensive infallible system.

With the recent storms it would have required massive pumps taking water out of the rivers and down huge pipes to the sea.

In the real world of taxes to pay for drainage systems are all designed on the basis of likelihood of a particular intensity of storm with a particular frequency to save money.

With the intensity of the recent rainfall this would NOT have been possible. The drains empty into rivers and as the rivers are 20 feet (6 metres) above normal there it little chance.

The only viable solution to prevent flooding of homes is to build them outside ALL areas when have been flooded recently and allow a margin for error.

Answer 3

People are getting obsessed with 'flood plains' but thats the least of your problems. The drains cannot cope with a excess of water and so the water comes up the drains in the road, up the drains in your house and out of the toilet if you have a downstairs toilet. So even if you dont live on a flood plain, you're in trouble. So the drains need an overhaul. Also remember that the south is at a lower physical level than the north, so flooding is more likely.

Answer 4

This has been playing on my mind - I keep feeling I'm close to imagining a radical invention - but the perfect answer won't properly form yet. I've toyed with the idea of flame cannons on my home... blasting the water as it approaches and vaporising it in to steam. :p

Or a tube system... with an array of tubes around my property, where the water flows in and gets propelled up the tube and then powered out in to the air towards neighbours further down the street - leaving me safe.

Thankfully I live in an area not suspectible to flooding - but my heart goes out the the devastation caused by the floods to those who've been hit. I certainly wouldn't want my home flooded with water - what a mare !

Answer 5

If every house in the country was to install a 1000 litre grey water tank to collect rain water this would lock up 10 billion litres of water, which may help the situation, this water which we call grey water can then be pumped to supply water to garden hoses and toilets saving money on water rates, factories hotels schools could also do the same locking up double the amount.

Answer 6

It wil cost money and this shower would rather spend money on anything which gives a grasd result. Most flood defences can not be seen above ground so the great ones who know everything can not make a big slash over a seven foot wall

Answer 7

Build a dam across England South of Birmingham and a huge wall around the South coast and then flood everywhere south of the dam, that will remove nearly all the drug dealers, drug addicts, crooks, swindlers, politicians, murderous police officers and of course the German parasites who squat in Buckingham palace.

Answer 8

Funny Q Joe - but all breakwaters everywhere do the same thing - they break down the tremendous power of strong waves and currents in the mighty sea water.

Answer 9

why just the south?! its not just the south that suffers! use sandbags, and when you know there are severe weather warnings, move as much as you can up on higher levels if possible. the drainage system is the problem, it wasnt designed to cope with so much water in such a short space of time.

Answer 10

Yes, but u would have to pay me a high wage and make me Minister for Environment for my ideas!