Flood is the occurrence of an excessive volume of water in areas not usually waterlogged. It is one of the major environmental crises which result in loss of lives, collapsing of houses and markets, destruction of livestock and farmlands, giving rise to food shortage and starvation. It has health implications: polluted drinking water catalyzes water-borne diseases. It causes economic problems as business activities are paralyzed, People are displaced and their properties are destroyed.
Ibadan has witnessed several devastating flood incidents since 1933, but the monetary value of damages to property that resulted from the rainfall and flooding of 26 August 2011 was by far the highest, with reports that 39 bridges and culverts were damaged in the floods. Research says that the flood problems in Ibadan have been largely attributed to indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in streams and river channels, and construction of buildings in floodplains and across drainages. The solid waste composition in Ibadan comprises leaves, paper, food waste, nylon, tins, glass and rags.
Insideoyo.com brings you 6 ways you can make Ibadan flood-free:
1. Stop Dumping Refuse Indiscriminately: The flood problems have been largely attributed to indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in streams and river channels, and construction of buildings in floodplains and across drainages. Hence, a flood can be mitigated when you and I stop the indiscriminate dumping of wastes.
2. Keep Gutters Clean: Unclean gutters will hinder the easy flow of water. It is necessary to make our gutters clean at all time. Rain gutters clogged with debris will allow water to get under shingles and into a siding.
3. Don’t Build Structure on Water Way: Just as building on roads is totally not acceptable, building on waterway should also be discouraged. Aside from the fact that it affects the flow of water, people who own structure(s) on waterway are liable to lose their properties and families.
4. Building Canals: Canals are artificial water channels that can be crucial to flood prevention. Canals facilitate control of water levels passing through, and form linear reservoirs and water locks. During flooding, excess water is channeled through canals to non-risk areas further downstream or to other areas with high demand for water, such as arid and semi-arid areas. Canals can also be used to lock excess flood waters in its linear reservoirs to prevent flooding and store water for future use.
5. Building Dikes and Levees: Dikes and levees are flood-control structures built to fight river flooding and water surges. Dikes and levees restrain rivers during floods by providing artificial water channels that prevent runoffs from bursting floodplains. Floodplains are natural waterways that carry excess river water during heavy rainfall. Dike engineers/constructors alter and develop floodplains by building dikes and levees to boost flood-prevention when floodplains well up.
6. Harvesting Rain Water: Harvesting rainwater involves collecting and storing rainwater and can not only prevent floods, it can also curb urban water scarcity. Harvested rainwater can be cleaned for human consumption and distributed to people in rural areas, as well as urban areas in times of water scarcity. Rainwater harvesting is carried out in different ways, including building ponds, storm drains, water retention basins and flood-control dams.
