Types of Flooding - Surface Water Flooding

Unfortunately, the UK is known for it's floods. Generally, the worst months for flooding are November to March.

Around one in six homes in the UK are at risk of flooding and almost 2.5 million people live in areas that are at risk of serious flooding. As Flood Disaster management, flood clean up and flood drying specialists we know and have witnessed first-hand the devastating damage, loss and disruption floods can cause to both homes and businesses.

We have worked on floods of all types and scales. There are in fact several types of floods that occur in the UK each of which bring their own challenges that we at Seco Solutions are skilled in dealing with. In this series of blogs we will be talking about these different types of flooding, today we will be concentrating on Surface Water Flooding.

---

Different Types of Flooding in the UK

1. Surface Water

2. River Flooding

3. Coastal Flooding

4. Groundwater Flooding

5. Sewer Flooding

Obviously depending on where you live or where your business premises is located affects the level of risk for flooding, several factors, ie living next to a River you are at increased risk of flooding.

---

Surface water flooding

- one of the most common types of flooding in the UK

- can affect anyone, regardless of location/geographical area

- can be caused by something as simple as a blocked drainpipe

Several Causes of Surface Water Flooding include

- Blocked drains

- Rainwater running off roads into ditches causing them to overflow

- Increase in construction works

- Burst pipes, ie after icy/cold spell

- Reduction in vegetation to soak up water and increase in tarmacked areas.

What is the risk of surface water flooding?

Unfortunately, regardless of location there is always a small risk of surface water.

“Flooding from surface water is difficult to predict as rainfall location and volume are difficult to forecast.” (taken from the Government website)

There are areas, i.e. lower land level areas, where surface flooding occurs more frequently such places you may be at higher risk than anticipated.

How much damage can surface water cause?

The amount of water in surface flooding can be minimal, but more often than not, it occurs in busier areas leading to greater disruption. Whether this is a drains or flooded roads that need clearing, the damage can impact the local area, traffic, etc and cause larger issues.

Surface water flooding can happen in areas that are not used to flooding and may not be as prepared, which causes more damage, as there is a lack of flood barriers and measures in place.

At Seco Solutions we have over 10 years experience dealing with flood damaged properties, having worked on small and very large scale projects including the devastating floods in Cockermouth, the East Coast Surge and Somerset levels. You can be assured you will be in experienced, safe and professional hands.

If you suffer a surface water flood, or flood of any kind please get in touch with us, we react quickly and efficiently to mitigate loss and distress and to get you back in your home/business premises as quickly as possible.

Contact us on 0800 048 7768