Flood Control

[jenkinstod]

I'm new to this forum, so before I post details on my question, I wanted to find out if this is the right place to be asking it.

Basically, I wanted input on an idea my brother is exploring to minimize impact from recurring flooding at his house. We think the longer term solution is better runoff management, but in the interim, he doesn't feel like he has any choice except to modify his property/house to keep the water out.

The idea is to build a concrete wall around the back perimeter of his house. The property slopes down to a creek in the back, and when the flooding has occurred, it has entered his house along the back wall, entering the two doors into his basement. The idea of the wall is essentially to create a barrier to prevent the water from reaching that wall.

Anyway, I can provide more details, including sketches, if needed and if this is the best place to ask this sort of question. Thanks in advance for any tips or recommendations.

 

[jenkinstod]

Thanks everyone for the help, and thanks to cvg for your final comments.

It sounds like some are frustrated with my failure to provide enough details, but because of the sensitivity of this issue, and potential legal ramifications, I'm reluctant to provide the details requested. Just to avoid any misunderstanding, let me confirm that I probably won't provide any details on address, city, creek, etc., so it's probably best if we consider this topic closed.

Again, thanks to all for the help.

 

[sam74]

cvg, Q=VxA. When you add more A you can handle more Q at a specefic location so yes providing more room by excavating could possibly help. It is no different than constructing a berm or a wall we just don't have any useful information to determine what is possible. I personally would prefer the water level to stay as low as possible and excavation would be the route in that case.

Having an outfall somewhere besides the river would likely have yourself involved in some sort of future lawsuit. You simply don't divert runoff to a different location if possible.

I can't even comprehend why giving out location information for this site would jeopardize any future lawsuit unless jenkinstod is a lawyer trying to get a handle on a potential case.

 

[cvg]

unless you extend the area "A" well beyond the downstream limits of the property, you will continue to have the "backwater effect" which is creating the ponding. Just excavating the ground in front of the house will create an ineffective flow area which will do little if anything to reduce the flood level. And I believe my post mentioned river channelization which is what you appear to be recommending. Without dealing with the backwater effect, the river stage will not drop and the house will still be flooded. So the river would need to be widened and or lined with concrete or other improvements made.

 

[sam74]

There really isn't enough info to be recommending anything with much surety. We have no idea where the site is in relation to the watershed. We have no idea about property limits, we have no idea about any backwater effects which may or may not be creating any ponding. We have no idea about what is even legal as far as remedies. Are we in the USA? Go figure.

Waste of time post other than a p!ss!ng match