- Flooding is another water related problem that is increasing as population grows and urban areas expand.
Many riverside settlements have encroached onto the protective flood plains.
- Early Settlements were built on hills above rivers. The locally elevated areas where higher ground abuts the river channel were populated so that the inhabitants could benefit from proximity to a water supply, but be protected in times of flood. In old towns the significant historical buildings, such as churches, can often be found on the highest ground, with residential buildings all around, often the wealthiest nearest the top and the poorest nearest the river.
- Recent Developments have been forced to utilise available land on the outskirts of the old town. This has often resulted in significant buildings such as hospitals, schools and factories being located on the flood plain and at significant risk. This encroachment onto the natural flood channel of rivers has led to significant challenges.
Institution of Civil Engineers (2001) “Learning to Live With Rivers: Final Report of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Presidential Commission to Review the Technical Aspects of Flood Risk Management in England and Wales” Institution of Civil Engineers, London, November 2001 available at the Institute of Civil Engineers website.