Abstract
A CHADWICK Lecture under the Bossom Gift was given on April 14 by Mr. D. C. Graham, who discussed the dangers from rainfall in urban areas, the prevention of flooding of buildings and of its insanitary consequences. Mr. Graham dealt with the subject under four headings: (1) faulty design of buildings and omissions of essentials ; (2) overflowing of streams and rivers ; (3) damp and flooding by land water ; (4) backing up of rainwater in drains and sewers. The first two causes were touched on and the two last discussed in detail. Reference was made to the importance of the building by-laws in this connexion and to the necessity of careful inspection and repair of river walls. As regards the third cause, there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining in dry weather whether a building site will remain dry and whether there are any land drains or filled-in ditches that will cause dampness or flooding after heavy rain. The varying levels of the land water due to drought, pumping near the site and to wells and the great importance of constructing the lowest floors of building either above the maximum water level or making the walls and floors waterproof and of sufficient strength, were dealt with, as well as the laying of sub-soil drains near a building, and what they should and should not do. It is not practicable for financial and other reasons to provide sewers of sufficient capacity to carry away the heavy rainfalls that occur from time to time, especially during thunderstorms, as rapidly as they fall, and there are a number of unknown factors, such as the storage capacity of the sewers and drains and the fact that during a storm the flow in the sewers may be backwards as well as forwards, which prevent precise calculations being made. Where it is necessary to construct basements with floors below the possible flood level in the sewers, there are advantages in not draining such basements ; where such basement drainage is required in old or new buildings, the risk of flooding can be reduced to a minimum at no great expense.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rainfall Flooding and Health. Nature 149, 435 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/149435b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/149435b0