British Invention Comes in ‘Extra Large’ to Hold Back Floods

(PRWEB UK) 19 February 2014

Thousands of homes and properties in the UK are being protected from river flooding by an innovative upstream storage solution using giant-sized Hydro-Brake® Flow Control vortex technology.

The Hydro-Brake® Flood Alleviation flow control is an innovative technology developed by Somerset company Hydro International. It holds back river floods away from homes and businesses using a sustainable, no-power and low maintenance solution. The largest schemes control flows in excess of 33 m3/s and hold back millions of cubic metres of water.

“The Government has confirmed that 55 flood schemes can go ahead in 2014/15 in response to the relentless storms and floods experienced across the UK. Now the onus is on the engineering community to deliver practical, best-value solutions to protect communities and mitigate against future climate change,” said Alex Stephenson chair of the British Water Sustainable Water Management (SuWM) Focus Group and Director of Hydro International’s UK Stormwater division.

Already the opportunities offered by upstream temporary flood storage have attracted attention as a viable, lower-impact solution to flood risk management of river catchments. The Hydro-Brake® Flood Alleviation flow control holds back water without the need for power or mechanical intervention.

Since Hydro International invented and developed the Hydro-Brake® Flow Control 30 years ago, it has become an industry-standard method of flow attenuation. The Hydro-Brake® Flow Control’s internal geometry allows water to flow through it unhindered for as long as possible. A self-activating vortex is created when the water upstream reaches a pre-determined height, for example in a flood situation, throttling back the water, and releasing it at a measured, controlled rate.

“We have now installed Hydro-Brake® Flood Alleviation solutions to protect over 4,000 properties in flood prone areas. The last three months have shown the Hydro-Brake® could be a key part of further flood alleviation and prevention solutions in the UK.”

The self-activating hydrodynamic vortex control technology was pioneered by Hydro in the 1990s and used extensively to prevent surface water and watercourse flooding ever since. Most frequently used in much smaller dimensions as part of urban surface water drainage designs, the technology is completely scalable from small dispersed schemes with pass forward flow rates of a few litres per second, to giant schemes that protect major urban conurbations. 2013 saw the rapid acceptance of its most advanced design yet, the Hydro-Brake Optimum®.

“Two major benefits of the Hydro-Brake Optimum® are that the water storage requirements are up to 30% less than for a valve or penstock controlled scheme, and that the maximum inlet design flow can be varied ± 20% to allow for climate change increases,” continues Alex.

Hydro-Brake® Flood Alleviation installations form part of Scotland’s award-winning and largest flood alleviation scheme, the White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme where 1,750 urban and suburban properties are protected, including commercial and residential. The flow controls hold back water behind three dams creating temporary storage areas on agricultural land in the highlands above Glasgow. The water is released downstream at a controlled rate so that it does not overspill flood defences protecting properties downstream.

Two other multi-award winning schemes are: a scheme in the valley of the River Douglas in Wigan which protects 610 properties from flooding in the nearby city centre, and River Gaunless in Co. Durham. Smaller communities from 70 to 300 homes have also benefited, for example at Portpatrick, Argyllshire, once devastated by flash floods through its streets, Weedon Bec in Northants and Devil’s Bridge near Sheffield.

For further information call the Hydro-Brake® hotline: 01275 337937 or visit http://www.hydro-int.com.

-ends-

Notes to editor

Hydro International, which has offices in the UK, USA and Ireland, provides cost effective solutions for controlling the quantity and improving the quality of water with minimal maintenance. Hydro products have won international awards for outstanding contributions and technical innovation in the water industry. Hydro operates in the water and wastewater sector and the stormwater sector for the construction industry and, offers an enhanced coverage of treatment solutions to the municipal sector.

Press Enquiries to: Jo Allen. Tel: 0161 282 6168; Email: jo(at)sharonlindsaypr(dot)co(dot)uk Sharon Lindsay. Tel: 07928 809035; Email: sharon(at)sharonlindsaypr(dot)co(dot)uk

Fax 0161 282 6168.

Issued on behalf of: Hydro International, Stormwater Division, Clevedon Hall Estate, Victoria Road, Clevedon, BS21 7RD. For further technical support, please contact: Catrin Lewis on Tel: 01275 878371, Fax: 01275 874979, e-mail: enquiries(at)hydro-int(dot)com website: http://www.hydro-int.com.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/02/prweb11593296.htm