WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
WASH Response to Urban
Floods
Session 1
Significance and Context to Urban
Floods
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Brainstorm
How is urban
flooding
different from
rural flooding?
FLOODsite
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Types of flood
•
•
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According to Duration - Rapid onset floods
- Slow onset floods
- Seasonal flooding
According to Location - Coastal Flooding
- Arroyos Flooding
- River Flooding
- Urban Flooding
Source: FLOODsite
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Causes of urban flooding
• Natural Causes
- Heavy rainfall / flash floods
- Lack of lakes
- Silting
Man Made Causes
•
- Population pressure
- Deforestation
- Trespassing on water storm
drains
- Unplanned urbanization
- Poor water and sewerage
management
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Source: FLOODsite
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Case Study 1: Floods in Gonaïves,
Haiti, 2008
What is the
impact of the
floods?
What challenges
can you identify
for the WASH
response?
Source: UNICEF
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Categories of people who may be
directly affected by urban floods
• Those who stay in their
homes
• Those who stay with host
families
Source: chinadaily.com.cn
• Those who relocate to
official shelters
• Those who relocate to
unofficial shelters
Source: REDR India
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
“Women living in poor areas
were most severely affected
during the floods”
Rashid et al. (2000)
Source: UNICEF
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Perceived adverse impacts of floods in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2007
1.
2.
3.
4.
Damaged property / house
Undesirable odours
Water-borne diseases
Contamination of water
by sewage and waste
5. Mosquito infestation
6. Contamination of drinking water
7. Stagnant water in depressions
8. Growth of acquatic weeds
Rashid et al. (2007)
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Source: FLOODsite?
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Challenges in responding to urban
floods
• Access problems
• Coordination between local
authorities, private suppliers,
relief agencies
• Lack of community awareness
about flooding
• Systems are often complex and
require a high level of
technical skills
• Risk of contamination –
sewerage systems, pit latrines,
industrial
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Source: http://www.thewe.cc
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
WASH standards of relief during
urban floods
•
•
•
Emergency Sphere Standards
National and local Government standards and
regulations
Existing norms e.g. populations in urban areas may
be used to and rely upon larger quantities of water
for a variety of needs such as drinking, toilet
flushing,
bathing,
household
cleaning
etc
Ensure, the response fits into the global and national
context – not responding in isolation
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WASH Cluster – Emergency Training
UF
Key Learning Points
•
•
•
•
•
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There are three principle types of floods: rapid-onset,
slow-onset and annual seasonal flooding
The impact and health risks of urban floods set
priorities for the WASH response
It is important to consider the needs of different users,
particularly people of vulnerable groups
There are substantial challenges to overcome while
responding to emergencies in urban flood settings
Sphere and other sector standards should be adhered to
where possible but also considering the local context
including Government standards and local norms.
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