Groundwater Rising

How to Protect Households From Groundwater Flooding

Episode Summary

Rob Pike from RAB Consultants joins host Katie to discuss the latest strategies, equipment and innovation in PFR (Property Flood Reslience), plus hear from Susan Young on how she was groundwater flooded but built back stronger.

Episode Notes

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