HOME ENVIRONMENT MAINTENANCE – PART TWO

This is the technique of controlling extreme water flow with dikes, dams, artificial channels, etc. To prevent the destruction of lives and properties. We are now going to look into different methods of flood control.

a. Soil Conservation Method
b. Storage tanks and reservoir.
c. Dikes and flood wall
d. Dredging (Improving River Capacity)
e. Diversion Channel

1. SOIL CONSERVATION METHOD

Slopes and rainfall strength are major factors for erosion and flooding. Increasing sealing also plays a major role. But one factor has been virtually ignored so far: Soil compaction.

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Soils are suffering from increasing compaction in many areas that have been used for agricultural purposes.

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If the soil is not sealed, thick or compressed, then most of the rain that falls on it soaks in. Under natural conditions, part of the water is stored for a long period of time and is available to plants and soil animals, the rest seeps downwards purified and contributes to groundwater creation. This is deeply dependent on biological structure building and biological water purification processes. Promoting high biological activity in the soil is the fundamental principle of organic farming and it is regularly confirmed that organic is active. This system supports a good soil structure that is less susceptible to erosion and can store significantly more water. Soil erosion is also reduced in organic farming.

2. STORAGE TANKS AND RESERVOIRS.
Changes in weather cause the regular flow of streams and rivers. And this vary greatly with time. Excess flows and valley flooding may be different with low flows or droughts. The role of water-storage reservoirs, therefore, is to store water during periods of higher flows, thus preventing flood disasters, and then permit gradual release of water during periods of lower flows.
Reservoirs ordinarily are formed by the construction of dams across rivers, but off-channel reservoirs may be provided by diversion structures and canals or pipelines that convey water from a river to natural or artificial depressions.

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When water is stored in a reservoir, the flow rate decreases, and residue is deposited. Thus, watercourses that transport much suspended deposit are poor sites for reservoirs; siltation will rapidly reduce storage capacity and severely shorten the useful life of a small reservoir. Even in larger reservoirs, storage of residue, constitutes a serious problem. Because removal of the deposited residues from reservoirs is generally too costly to be practical.
Despite this, the life expectancy of most reservoirs does not exceed 100 years at present.
It will take some high budget to get a reservoir in your home environment.

3. DIKES AND FLOOD WALLS.
River Dykes are artificial slopes or Flood walls erected to control water levels to reduce the danger of flooding by getting water away from an area facing the risk of flooding as quickly as possible.

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The overall goal is to prevent a build-up of water that could cause havoc on the environment.
The construction of dykes would protect farmlands, farm produce and livelihoods, while enhancing the people’s well-being. For instance, the flood control (state) ministry has been supported with funds from national budgets and support from the Natural Resources Fund.
Because some communities or the government are interested in the protection of farmlands and would do everything possible to get all anti-flood projects completed. If we don’t complete the works, floods can enter into farmlands and everything there could be destroyed; so, dykes are being constructed in those flood-prone areas.
Some home owners need to apply to the government environment agencies, to notify them on the impending flood disaster in that environment. So that they can be funded to build the Dikes and flood walls.

4. DREDGING OF RIVERS AND WATERWAYS
Dredging refers to the process of removing accumulated residue from the bottom or banks of bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, or streams. Storage of residue, like from soil erosion or decomposition of plants and animals, is a naturally occurring phenomenon where silt, sand and other forms of insoluble particles accumulate at the bottom of water bodies overtime.

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We Humans depend on water bodies and waterways for several daily activities especially the transportation of goods, fishing and recreation. Over time, the waterways can become blocked with residues that make navigation difficult, sometimes posing environmental threats of various types. Residues are the most common pollutant in rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs.

Dredging has evolved with human civilization. From the ancient time, people, materials and commodities have been transported by water using various types and sizes of carriers. But the ability to ship people and goods via inland waterways and oceans was, and still is, largely dependent on water depth. As these residues come together in waterways, people constantly use hands, by simply digging up the mud. But in our home environments we can still fix those things up by get some tools to clear those water ways.

5. FLOOD DIVERSION CHANNELS
Diversion channels are constructed to divert waters from the main channel for purposes such as flood control.

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It is a separate channel into which flood waters are directed to reduce the impact of flood on the main river route. Most Diversion channels on large river systems, can consist of adjacent low-lying areas or old river courses. Control structures may be located at the head of the diversion channel to divert flows during periods of high water and return flows during low water. Some diversion channels bypass the flood flows into an adjacent waterway, while others return the flows back into the same stream a distance downstream from the point of the diversion. Diversion channels are often used in urban areas where itis not possible to widen the existing channel due to development. Diversion channels may be used to provide a means of diverting floodwater. Major design considerations for diversion
Channels include:

1. Determining if the channel should convey partial or all flows.
2. Design of appropriate
   controls.
3. Sizing of the channel to convey the design discharge.
4. Design to reduce maintenance.

To be effective in reducing the flood stage, the distance between the point of diversion and the point of return to the main channel must be of sufficient length to prevent backwater effects.
Additionally, it is essential to consider potential morphologic effects on both the main channel and receiving channel.

Thank You Esteemed for going through PART TWO of this article.

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If you just saw this now, kindly go through my previous article
HOME ENVIRONMENT MAINTENANCE – PART ONE

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