579 Pluvial Flooding in Kingston Upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire

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SEPTEMBER 2008 Online 579 Geofile Mike Wynn PLUVIAL FLOODING IN KINGSTON UPON HULL AND THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE: A NEW BRITISH PHENOMENON

Introduction Physical geography of the City drainage Kingston upon Hull (usually city Post war, Hull had many open referred to as Hull) is located on The area is no stranger to flooding. drains that were gravity-driven the north bank of the Humber The 1953 storm surge affected the and fed into the Humber at low estuary and surrounded by the East Yorkshire coast, and the old tide. From 1949 to 1975 this East Riding of Yorkshire. It is a town of Hull has always been system was replaced with small city of 243,589 people (2001), subject to flooding during combined effluent and storm water with major port facilities, exceptional spring tides. sewers that were emptied by two industries (including BP, Smith Consequently in 1980 a tidal large pumping stations at West and Nephew, Reckitts), presently barrier was built across the mouth Hull (32 cumecs) and East Hull undergoing regeneration, and acts of the River Hull to stop high tides (26 cumecs). The Bransholme area as a small regional service centre. entering the mouth of the river of the city has had a separate storm and flooding low-lying parts of the water drainage system since the The East Riding (Figure 1) is city. 1950s that pumps water into the made up of the chalk Yorkshire River Hull (Figure 3). Wolds and Holderness. The latter Over 90% of the city lies below is a large, low, undulating wet area high-tide level: some areas are Hull was considered to have a of boulder clay topography. built on reclaimed marshland, modern drainage system that could Piecemeal reclamation since the other areas (East Carr and Orchard operate at full potential until 2000, medieval period involved land Park) are below sea level; these low when Humbercare was drainage, and the drying out of the elevations mean Hull’s drainage constructed. This system was area has reduced the level of the system has to be pumped. To the completed in 2005, and consisted land. Springs in the Driffield area west of the city on higher ground of a tunnel connecting west Hull give rise to the River Hull, which are the settlements of Cottingham, and east Hull sewers to a new drains south through Holderness Anlaby and Hessle. To the north is sewage works at Saltend. However to the Humber in a broad flat Beverley. All these settlements the additional pumping capacity at alluvial valley. In its final few drain water into the catchment of Saltend (22 cumecs) led to a miles it passes directly through the the River Hull. reduction in the pumping capacity city of Hull. of both the other stations, and after further consideration the west Hull station was deemed

Figure 1: Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Figure 2: Main areas of flooded roads and properties, Yorkshire Kingston upon Hull, 25 June 2007

Kingswood Bransholme

R. Derwent Flamborough Orchard Park E. Carr Head Yorkshire Priory Road Wolds Bridlington Newland Driffield The Avenues River York Hull R. Hull Derringham Hornsea Holderness Market Beverley Weighton East City Docks D Kingston upon Hull Ella centre oc Goole ks Anlaby r Park be Saltend um H R he . H Spurn T um 0 4km 0 20km be Head Grimsby r

Key Source: adapted from Coulthard et al. (2007) Boundary of the East Riding of Yorkshire GeoFile Series 27 Issue 1 Fig 580_03 Mac/eps/illustrator 11 s/s NELSON THORNES PUBLISHING GeoFile Series 27 Issue 1 Artist: David Russell Illustration Fig 580_01 Mac/eps/illustrator 11 s/s Geofile Online ©NELSON Nelson Thornes THOR 2008NES PUBLISHING Artist: David Russell Illustration September 2008 no.579 Pluvial flooding in Kingston upon hull...

Figure 3: Simplified drainage network in Kingston upon Hull large areas of Orchard Park, Newland Avenue, the Avenues, Key Priory Road, East Ella, Anlaby Generalised direction of R. Hull movement in sewer network Park and Anlaby flooded. 250 streets were submerged (Figure 2). T Bransholme Transfer tunnel 90 of the city’s 105 schools were Cottingham WHPS West Hull pumping station damaged. EHPS East Hull pumping station

WWTW Waste water treatment works In spite of the magnitude of the Willerby storm, key pieces of crucial Hull Drainage area for Bransholme WWTW sewage treatment and pumping infrastructure did not fail. station T Saltend Hospitals stayed open, the city Anlaby centre remained free from EHPS T T 0 4km flooding, most electricity did not WHPS fail, drinking water supplies River Humber continued to function and the Hessle telephone system operated. unnecessary, but retained for Hull’s drainage system could not The consequences emergency purposes, givingGeoFile a Seriesaccommodate 27 Issue 1 the amount of capacity of 62.4 cumecs.Fig Even 580_02 so, Mac/eps/irainwater:llustrator 11 drains s/s backed up and Personal the new treatment worksNELSON would THORNESoverflowed. PUBLISHING The City Council Water rising out of rivers and provide protection from aA 1-in-30-rtist: David Russedeclaredll Illustra tiona major incident at 09.30. sewers creates dangerous health year rainfall event. However the A month’s rain fell in 24 hours on conditions. Sewage and chemicals floods experienced in 2007 in Hull 25 June, swamping and may dilute in floodwater, but still and the East Riding were to be overwhelming the sewage pose significant health risks. One something different and unique in infrastructure, so water had man died, trapped in a drain he the UK. nowhere to escape to and flooded was trying to clear. low-lying districts of the city. June 2007 First, the water was in just a few Once the clean-up operation got streets and was only a minor under way, people’s lives were laid June 2007 was the wettest month inconvenience. It had entered out in their front gardens. House recorded in Yorkshire since 1882 some garages by 08.30 and floors had to be taken up, skirting (over 250mm) and May, June and children could not get to school, boards removed and plaster taken July were the wettest since records but then it rose into the air bricks off wherever it was wet or damp, began in 1760. On 25 June a around the bases of houses and and electrical wiring renewed. deepening depression (997mb) entered the properties. By 10.30, Dehumidifiers can take months to became slow-moving over the UK, water was 45cm deep in houses, at dry properties out, giving ample giving sustained heavy rain across which point it was reported people time for fungal spores to develop Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the were told to buy their own which can affect old people and Midlands which led to widespread sandbags. When the water got to a those with allergies and asthma. flooding. Previous heavy rain (over metre deep, toilets overflowed into 80mm) had occurred on 14/15 the houses. People in bungalows Losses of personal and sentimental June, leaving soils saturated and had no higher floor to escape to or property can be very stressful for water courses inundated and move possessions into; they lost some people, and such flood events causing some localised flooding. everything. can even cause psychological Further rain occurred on 20/23/24 problems. Many people had to June. The rain on 25 June Saltend continued to operate spend months living in caravans commenced at 02.00 hours, lasting throughout, but both its electricity without proper sewerage or water until 23.30 hours, and totalled supplies feed into one substation, supplies. Lots of people had no 110mm. This was heavy and and temporary flood barriers had insurance to cover their losses; those sustained with an intensity of to be erected to protect the that did may well see their 6mm per hour from 08.00 to 17.00. substation. Bransholme station premiums rise or have problems The return period for such a storm operated at capacity but flooded on renewing policies. Not only did is 1 in 150 to 200 years. Local 26 June and the pumps seized, as house prices in the affected areas rivers rose, but the River Hull did the bearings were under 6m of fall, but once people move back into not overtop its banks. water. There was a great deal of renovated houses, they tend to stay Groundwater levels on the flooding across the city, and initial for at least five years, which slows Yorkshire Wolds rose by an estimates suggested there were down the local housing market. enormous 10 metres in 24 hours. 14,000 to 16,000 flooded properties (homes, gardens and garages) (15% The media focused on floods in On Sunday 24 June the of all households), with 6,500 South Yorkshire where there was Meteorological Office had issued a homes flooded. Large areas of possibly more drama, and fourth wet weather warning that standing water occurred elsewhere overlooked Hull. The council instigated the opening of a 24-hour in the city. In east Hull, leader referred to Hull as ‘the flood incident room that day. It Bransholme, Kingswood and East forgotten city’. was soon obvious on 25 June that Carr were flooded. In west Hull

Agencies Figure 4: Flooding in the East Riding of Yorkshire, June 2007 The main cause of the flooding Key was initially put down to blocked Flooded East Riding gullies (which channel surface towns and villages Flamborough Head water into sewers). It was alleged Flooded East Riding Bridlington that there had been cutbacks in the farmland gulley-cleaning regime in previous years, but neighbouring authorities which had been more Driffield active in cleaning gullies still had floods. However, householders l Pocklington l regularly pour waste fat into u H drains, as well as more substantial . Hornsea Market R items, hence the need for regular Weighton cleaning. Beverley The Environment Agency has a system to warn people about river Kingston and tidal/coastal flooding, but it Howden upon Hull Withernsea became apparent that there was no r mbe system for warning about pluvial Hu The (rain) events. Subsequently it was Goole realised that nationally, no single agency has responsibility for issuing warnings about rainfall Spurn Head flooding. The fire and rescue 0 10km service were unable to pump water anywhere, as the watercourses and flooding and the extent of flooded drains were at full capacity. The GeoFile SeriesImpact 27 Issue 1on the economy agricultural land. In theFig village 580_04 of Mac/eps/illustrator 11 s/s Humberside fire and rescue service Wansford near Driffield theNELSON canal THORNESPersonal PUBLI SHINGfinancial losses are never deployed all available pumps, and overflowed its northern bankArtist: and David Russerecoupedll Illustra intion full. To some seven further high-volume pumps swamped the village. Adjacent to householders this was a double were brought in from other the River Hull much agricultural blow, as they had been flooded on services, operating for several days. land was flooded and inaccessible 15/16 June as well. Businesses A sports centre designated as a rest for harvesting, with many crops suffered whether they were flooded centre was itself flooded by 15.05 lost. Engineers stated that even the or not, and small businesses may not on 25 June. best-maintained water courses be able to cope with the loss; some could not have coped with the rain will even keep quiet about their Emergency plans had been drawn throughout June, but many people losses so competitors do not know. up for flooding by the river and blamed the Environment Agency the sea; no one had predicted for not cleaning out the drains, so The East Riding is the biggest pea- flooding from such an exceptional that wildlife could flourish, or the growing area in the country, and rainfall event, so there was no River Hull, by dredging out the 40% of the crop was lost, many contingency plan for this type of silt, digging out the weeds and hectares of potatoes were ruined, flooding. There was a struggle to removing trees on the water’s edge. and some wheat and barley was lost. co-ordinate the emergency The result was a perennially full These losses will not result in response, as emergency planners river and very slow movement of shortages on a national scale, but did not have access to basic water at a critical time. Field dykes prices soon rose for some products. information about the ownership, filled, the water backed up in the However, for some individual maintenance and operation of the field drains, fields became farmers, their annual profit was drains, sewers and gullies across waterlogged and then flooded, wiped out. the city. Protection of electricity some areas to a depth of 1.3m. sub-stations, ordering portaloos, The government announced a grant opening respite centres and In villages, drains were blocked or of £600m for flood defences, but sandbag distribution had not been filled to capacity, and minor only £436m would be available to thoroughly considered. There was streams became torrents of water, the Environment Agency for 2007-8. no contingency plan for the failure filling houses. In Burstwick east of This is divided up between the 11 of Bransholme pumping station. Hull, a 1980s estate of 114 houses regional flood defence committees was flooded, being left with a in England, so Yorkshire has Flooding throughout the ‘heavy, humid, wet stink’. There received just 5.75% of the allocation East Riding of Yorkshire was a rapid response by the council from Defra, yet the area is said to be on gully cleaning, visiting every the second-highest risk area for If Hull was a ‘forgotten city’, then village on a rolling programme. flooding in England. £4.1m for the East Riding was given even Altogether, 4,370 properties in emergency repairs have been partly less media attention, except East Yorkshire were affected by paid for by postponing the locally. Figure 4 shows villages the flooding. modernisation of the Hull tidal experiencing some degree of surge barrier.

Future threat system to fail? Will there be pockets of flooding? How do you Mid-June brought flooding to put out flood warnings street by some places, 25 June saw street? Agricultural land is widespread flooding in Hull and unlikely to be protected from East Yorkshire, and 18 July saw flooding, in order to save urban further flooding. In June 2007 the areas. Car parks and green spaces jet stream which normally lies to would be bunded (embanked), to the north of Scotland formed a accommodate safe storage of huge U-shaped wave across the floodwater in urban areas. Atlantic, directing depressions right across the UK. Were these Yorkshire Water has proposed a more vigorous, intense storms major hydraulic study to model freak events, part of natural flows in Kingston upon Hull, but climate change, or a result of asked what level of risk and human-induced climate change? protection would be required, The climate is not static, and every especially as the cost would impact year brings a new series of records. on customers’ bills. Even the best The extremes appear to becoming infrastructure in the world would more extreme. If the climate is not withstand a 1-in-150-year warming, then the atmosphere will rainfall event. It is suggested hold more water vapour which will additional pumping capacity in lead to more precipitation of Hull could manage rainfall and higher intensity. This also raises tidal flooding simultaneously. the contentious question of building on flood plains. Householders may well have to protect their own property if they Future plans want insurance, so instead of using decking and concrete, generating A review body was asked to runoff, lawns with a hollow would investigate the factors which act as drainage. They would also contributed to and exacerbated the have to keep drains clear and flooding, and to make flood-guard ground floors. recommendations. Some of these have national significance: • There is no system nationally Bibliography for warning of the danger from Coulthard. T. et al. (2007) The June pluvial flooding, so it is urgent 2007 floods in Hull, 24 August. to investigate new warning NFU (2007) British Farmer and systems. Grower. North East Edition, • Difficulties occur when August. multiple agencies are responsible for different areas of the drainage system. The Environment Agency, water companies and local authorities need to co operate. • Reappraisal of the 1-in-30-year design criterion, to include reference to the impacts of climate change.

It is suggested a national infrastructure is needed, with the F ocus Questions Environment Agency responsible for all forms of flooding. The 1 How much rain is needed to cause a flood? Environment Agency is already discussing how to change flood 2 25 June was an exceptional rainfall event that no one could have defences, but this will take a lot of predicted. What lessons does it hold for future flood planning? Consider money and many years. We will the arguments for and against: have to live with water and (a) a 1-in-30-year level of flood protection recognise the risk. Current risk (b) a 1-in-150-year level of flood protection. models are out of date; they now have to incorporate the 3 Should cost-benefit analysis be carried out for each threatened location, indiscriminate nature of pluvial or are settlements and infrastructure on flood plains too valuable and flooding. Questions arise: Where should be protected at all costs. If so, who pays? If not, which areas will be will the rain fall? How much left to flood? rainfall will it take for the drainage