Intense rain caused severe flooding and mudslides in the small town of Alpine City, Utah last September 8, according to an article posted on NBCNews.com. Sources say the flooding was caused by clogged up storm drains in Provo, a neighboring city. “The debris and everything else has come down and plugged off a lot of the storm drains. That funneled more water down this way,” said Rick Moore, Mayor of Payson, Provo.
Flash floods and mudslides are a problem that affect people almost everywhere, particularly those who live in hilly areas. Due to these natural disaster risks, investing in good and sturdy stormwater systems should be a priority in areas prone to flooding.
A good stormwater system should be able to contain a large volume of water at any given time, seeing as the purpose of these systems is to have a holding area for rain water, thus, preventing floods. As these systems collect water during severe rains, operators have the option to gradually release the water that has accumulated in them. This may result in very minor flooding, but it helps in the long run since the controlled release prevents flash floods.
Another significant advantage of investing in an efficient stormwater system is that it prevents the occurrence of the mudslides that typically accompany flash floods in mountainous and hilly regions. Mudslides generally occur because of loose sediment carried by large amounts of water, typically due to heavy rainfall which can result in a “flood of mud”. With a well-developed stormwater system in mudslide-prone areas, these disasters can be avoided.
Stormwater systems can also be used to replenish water supplies, provided that purifying filters are also installed within the pipes of the system. Due to the presence of water filters in various sections of the pipe, rainwater that travels through the pipes undergoes a water purification process, with pollutants getting caught in the filters. By the time the water reaches the end of the pipe, it will be clean enough for humans to drink.
While government officials have improved in terms of responding to natural disasters such as flooding, it is commonly accepted that prevention will always be better than a cure. That’s why investing in stormwater systems like the Stormchamber of Hydrologic Solutions Inc. is a great idea.
