Finding a solution to flooding

Above: Hull streets in flood

Hull City Council has launched a £330,000 pilot project to develop a way of preventing flooding in the city in the future.
The Aqua Green project aims to identify suitable locations in Hull or the East Riding that can be used as storage areas for large volumes of water, to reduce the risk of flooding in residential and other built-up areas.
As part of the project, the council is seeking £70,000 of funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
This will fund research into how surface water (which can gather after heavy and prolonged rainfall) stands, flows and drains in Hull, and the depth it reaches in different areas of the city.
This information will be key to locating feasible Aqua Green sites.
As the project progresses, the council will share the knowledge it gains about water management with the Rotterdam Municipal Authority in Holland, which is developing a similar pilot scheme of its own.
With a third of Holland below sea level, the Dutch have extensive experience of flood management, and the sharing of information between Rotterdam and Hull can benefit both cities.
"Minimising the risk of future flooding is a priority for the council, which is why we have decided to move forward with the Aqua Green project," said Cllr Dave Woods, who has responsibility for the environment in the city.
"Hull and Rotterdam are port cities and we recognise the flood risks we face from intense rainfall and rising sea levels, both of which are clear outcomes of climate change."
Meanwhile, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Forward, and other UK authorities are keen to be involved in the Aqua Green project.