I thought it might be interesting to discuss this..

Issues as I see it revolve around preventing water ingress to parts of
buildings 'below high water mark' potential damage to foundations, and
ability of basic services, particularly sewage, to function in these
conditions.


One solution that has occurred to me in the past, is to surround
residential areas with levees. Roads and so on are built on these - like
in the fens..some areas are set aside as 'allowable flooding areas' and
buildings are within pumpable zones.

Another option is to simply build on piles, in order to allow flood
water to gaily rush by underneath ('Hello Sailor!') and limit damage to
simply the garden.

It is not possible AFAICT to not 'allow' flooding: the water has to be
stored somewhere, or else downstream rises will be massive. Your flood
protection is someone else's overtopped levee.

Utilities like power and water supply should be proof against what? a 5
meter flood?

Likewise any sewage works should also be high enough, and run from
sewage pumps to prevent overtopping. Sewage systems should be sealed as
far as possible to prevent sewage and flood waters mixing.

I am not clears really as to how much issues like blocked storm drains
etc actually impact on generalised flooding. However a motorway blocked
due to bad drainage is a disgrace.

What do you think?