New Flood Barrier to bring hope to victims
With news that 1 in 6 homes are at risk from flooding, it is nice to know that further advances are being made into protecting us all from flooding.
A new barrier has been designed to automatically deploy if water levels rise above a certain point.
The self closing flood barrier, was designed by a Dutch inventor some 12 years ago and was recently showcased to a room of around 50 people made up of a mix of councillors, flood victims and delegates.
The flood barrier is already being used in the States to protect the National Archives in Washington DC and once it has been installed the costs for maintenance are relatively low.
The flood barrier works automatically when the sensors are triggered, rising up to cover windows and doors. There are sensors in the ground which detect if water levels are 10cm below the ground. The barrier is designed to cope with strong sideways currents and will last for around 50 years once installed.
The cost for installation is about £5,000 per square metre – but in comparison to existing flood defences which have to be stored, take time to put together and use a lot more power – the benefits over time make it the better choice.
A Government member who witnessed the demonstration has intimated that The Environment Agency should be working with the Government to research whether they should be using this prevention tool instead of existing defences.
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