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Before the Flood - Increasing Flood Problems and How to Manage Them

May 15, 2003

River flooding is a serious issue for society, and Scotland has its own particular set of challenges in the years ahead. That's the message from Professor Garry Pender, Professor of Environmental Engineering at the School of the Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University in a public lecture on 15 May '03.

The incidence of floods worldwide has increased two-fold in the last 50 years and climatic change scenarios suggest the problem will continue to increase significantly. Taken together, river and coastal flooding are responsible for one third of economic losses and over 40% of fatalities due to natural hazards worldwide. The significance of flooding is increasing, due in part to climate change, but also to changes in land use and increased use of flood plains for urban and industrial development.

In Scotland these problems could be compounded, says Professor Pender, by the fact that responsibilities for flooding are fragmented, and the legislative framework is complex.

"South of the border flooding on major rivers is largely the responsibility of the Environment Agency. Here in Scotland the situation is much less clear, and more people are involved. This includes local councils, SEPA, Scottish Water and the Scottish Executive. Rivers flow through many areas, and what is done in one place can have serious consequences for other areas and other people downstream. As flooding becomes more of an issue it's time that the situation in Scotland was considered carefully and clarified."

In his talk Professor Pender, an internationally renowned expert in the field, reviewed current research activities in the area of flood risk management and in particular recent advances in computer models for predicting flood inundation extent.

For further information, please contact:
Caroline Dempster, Press Officer,
Heriot-Watt University
Tel:0131-451 3443
Email c.m.l.dempster@hw.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt University

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