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Nature-based Solutions feel like a new thing, but they have actually been around for about 20 years now. In that time they have become a much-talked about source of hope for a new and sustainable way of dealing with flooding. To truly reach their potential, more research and data is need to truly quantify their impact. And, then, there's our favourite question to consider... What about Groundwater? Could nature-based solutions be used in areas prone to groundwater flooding to improve outcomes for residents, businesses, communities and the environment?
Dr Imogen Barnsley is perfectly placed to talk nature-based solutions and groundwater, having made this exact subject the main focus of her PhD studies. She researched and modelled chalk stream catchments in the south of England where groundwater flooding has occurred. Her conclusions are fascinating and lead to a new experimental approach - specific to groundwater flooding-prone areas - that you can hear all about in the episode.
If you want to read Dr Barnsley's doctoral thesis, you can find it here:
eprints.soton.ac.uk/468626
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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If you are flooded by Groundwater Flooding - or any other type of flooding - insurance is something you spend a lot of time worrying about. Am I covered? Could the wording of my policy or its level of cover mean I am not covered? Will I get a payout and will it be enough?
In this episode we try to cover all the angles of flooding and insurance. Dermot Kehoe explains how re-insurance 'Flood Re' (a collaboration between the insurance industry and the government) can be a lifeline for people whose properties are at risk of flooding or have flooded before. Insurance industry expert Bernie Coughlin skilfully balances the line between being on the side of customers... but also explaining why the insurance companies need to have the processes, policies and exclusions that they do.
Plus, of course, we consider the unique case that Groundwater Flooding is and how both Flood Re and the insurance industry are adapting to better serve those affected now... or who could be in the future.
This is a detailed and fascinating discussion that will be enlightening to anyone with a personal or professional interest in getting flood insurance right.
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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Groundwater flooding can be infrequent, unpredictable and arrive in combination with other types of flooding - all of this makes it hard to model and predict. But modelling is a key tool in managing other types of flooding such as coastal and fluvial. So, what's being done to improve modelling of groundwater flooding?
Dr David Cobby is Senior Associate Director, Water & Environment for Jacobs and is working on Project Groundwater. In this episode he joins host Katie to explain the core principles behind modelling, explore the challenges groundwater presents... and shares the latest progress on improving the situation.
Katie is also joined by Andy Mills, owner of a 1750's cottage in a village near Stokenchurch. The cottage has a fascinating history linked to flooding, and yet Andy was unable to find this information before buying the house, and has now been flooded 4 times. His story is a great example of a situation where improved modelling of groundwater flooding could make a real positive difference.
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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Chartered Engineer Fola Ogunyoye from TJAY Counsulting Ltd talks to host Katie Hargrave-Smith about how planning and legislation has changed over the years in terms of how it considers all forms of flooding. He highlights a familiar tale of a distinct lack of information when it comes to groundwater flooding.
But, there is hope. Fola is working with Project Groundwater and sees a path to progress by bringing multiple sources of information together in a new way that will enable not just the above-ground outputs of groundwater flooding to be understood better... but actually enable mapping of the situation below ground.
If progress can be made in specific Project Groundwater focus areas, then there is the potential for the models and ways of working to be adopted at a national scale... and truly improve how Planning handles groundwater.
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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Groundwater flooding is the lowest profile type of flooding, but it can be the hardest to predict, cope with and recover from. It tends to come on unexpectedly and then take a long time to recede. This makes it especially hard to deal with in terms of PFR - Property Flood Resilience.
In this episode, Rob Pike from RAB Consultants shares his expertise. Why does groundwater flooding present different challenges to defending buildings and keeping them dry? What is the latest thinking in terms of best practice before, during and after a groundwater flooding event? Rob gives great insights into the types of equipment that can be useful and talks about how different combinations of equipment and protection can work effectively.
As usual, there is real lived experience to shape the discussion. Susan Young lives close to the Thames and her flat was flooded by groundwater only a day or two after she had brought the property. She talks about what it was like to be groundwater flooded and how she took a positive and proactive approach to making her flat as resilient as possible in the future. By harnessing expert advice, accessing funding and researching insurance and equipment, she has managed to build back stronger as minimal cost to herself.
Susan talks in the episode about the help she got from 'Flood Mary' - you can find out more information here: floodmary.com
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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Why is groundwater flooding often referred to as "invisible flooding" or "forgotten flooding"?
There's plenty about groundwater flooding that makes it different from other forms of flooding. It's less predictable, less mapped, less measured and less headline-grabbing. But for the people and businesses affected by it, it can often be more trouble. How can you prepare for something you don't know is coming? How do you recover from a flood that takes way longer to recede than other types? And what about the mental health impacts of seeing the water level millimetres below your floorboards, or slowly rising from the sewers (bringing the contents with it)?
Groundwater flooding is tricky. Hard to grasp. And that's exactly why Project Groundwater was started - to begin to understand this type of flooding more so that it can be handled better. In this episode, Jed Ramsay - leader of Project Groundwater, and one of the UK's most knowledgeable groundwater flooding experts - joins host Katie Hargrave-Smith to reveal what we know... and what we don't know.
Plus, as always on Groundwater Rising, there is firsthand experience shared by a community member affected by groundwater flooding. Andy from Kimpton in Hertfordshire shares his story - how long-dry hillside springs suddenly started seeping water and how a "dead" river came back to life to threaten houses built on top of it, with even the council telling him the river he was was now bailing out of his neighbour's garden... simply "didn't exist".
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
What does resilience even mean?
It's a term that gets bandied around a lot - in press releases, government briefings and every new bit of environmental policy... but are there social, political and economic contexts and caveats that mean that in reality, the aim to make communities more "resilient" isn't being achieved? Or are we all more prepared for challenges that things like flooding - especially groundwater flooding - bring... because we are familiar with the concept of resilience and are supported to make it happen?
Host Katie Hargrave-Smith is joined by two experts in the field - Dr Karen Potter and Dr Sarah Fitton - who have undertaken considerable research into the term "resilience" - it's history, political DNA and relevance to communities dealing with the challenges of all types of flooding, including groundwater.
Plus, to get the real-life lived experience of a community member affected by groundwater flooding, Simon Collings from Oxford Flood Alliance talks about what resilience really looks like at ground level.
You can access Dr Karen Potter and Dr Sarah Fitton's report on Resilience, here: 1713945164.pdf (projectgroundwater.co.uk)
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
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Katie Hargrave-Smith from Project Groundwater explains what's in store from new monthly podcast 'Groundwater Rising'. Why is this often referred to as "forgotten flooding"? How does it differ from other types of flooding... and why is so little known about it?
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising
