Reducing Flood Risk Associated with Basement Drainage

Abstract

Basements in residential buildings are often subject to flooding. It is common practice to connect basement drainage by gravity to the stormwater system which means that if there is any surcharge caused by capacity constraint, constriction, blockage or partial blockage in the system downstream of where the basement drain connects then the basement is at risk of flooding. This surcharge can lead to water backing up in the drainage pipe and entering the basement. In this discussion paper we comment on flood risk from basement drainage, outline the current guidance and review possible safe drainage solutions.

Key Words:

• Flood risk
• basement drainage

Additional information

Notes on contributors

A R Ladson

Tony Ladson has more than 25 years’ experience in hydrology and river management and has worked on projects throughout Australia and in the US and Taiwan. He has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Science from the University of Minnesota and also studied at Uppsala University in Sweden. He is a director of Moroka Pty Ltd, an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne and a teaching fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University, where he delivers post-graduate courses on water resources, urban drainage infrastructure and flood management. One of Tony’s main interests is the application of hydrologic principles to improve the environmental condition of Australia’s rivers. Tony has more than 90 refereed publications and has completed a book on Australian hydrology for Oxford University Press.

J Tilleard

Dr John Tilleard is a civil engineer with 38 years’ experience in natural resources management specialising in waterways and catchments. He has been an owner, executive or director in several specialist consulting companies, and a director of rural and urban water authorities. He is currently a Principal in Moroka Pty Ltd, and undertakes a range of consulting projects nationally and internationally.