Water company reacts to flash flood threat

Water company reacts to flash flood threat

Water utility United Utilities is taking steps to deal with the threats posed by flash flooding, highlighted yesterday.

A landmark study by the Met Office and Newcastle University has identified that climate change could result in heavier summer rainfall, with a greater risk of flash flooding.

Short, sharp downpours could become an increasingly unwanted characteristic of the British summer if the effects of global warming continue, experts writing in the Nature and Climate Change journal have warned.

But UU is investing heavily in schemes designed to mitigate the risk of flooding homes and business.

The FTSE 100-quoted utility firm said had already invested £205 million between 2010-2015 protecting homes and businesses from sewer flooding.

A spokesman said: “Most instances of flooding are experienced at times of heavy rainfall, when some of our sewers struggle to cope with demand.”

"When this happens, the sewer will surcharge and wastewater may escape from the sewer network. Unfortunately, this can result in some sewer flooding of properties – a nightmare for residents that we’re working hard to guard against.”

The company is also targeting areas more likely to experience flooding and defect identification through CCTV sewer surveys.

The spokesman added: ‘The regional wastewater network will benefit from significant investment as we adapt to weather patterns and climate change.”

Water firms across England and Wales are responsible for protecting homes against sewer flooding due to hydraulic incapacity on their own assets.