The study was conducted by Dr Xiaonan Tang and his fellow researchers from the Department of Civil Engineering at Liverpool University (XJTLU). During the study, they found that travertine offered a significant potential to reduce storm water runoff. Travertine, which is a type of limestone that is often used for kitchen worktops and tiling, helps to infiltrate the water to the ground, and at the same time removes numerous heavy metal pollutants from the water too.
Flood Crises
Urban flooding is a common issue in Great Britain. In a country that averages 133 days of rain or snow each year, the country is often met with flood crises that can lead to property, road and farmland damage. It is a significant challenge that has to be dealt with most years and is particularly bad in urban areas where the runoff water has nowhere to go. Rivers, streams and lakes can only hold a certain amount of water, therefore once their capacities have been reached, flooding will naturally occur. Speaking about the current pavement material we use across the UK, Dr Xiaonan Tang said “Traditional pavement materials like concrete are not very absorbent so in heavy rainfall, they create a large amount of runoff.”
Results of the initial study have indicated that travertine pavement can filter out over 90 percent of copper, lead and zinc that occurs in storm water. It also reduces the storm water runoff by up to 50 percent. The travertine’s success is thought to be down to its porous properties and due to the fact it is easily accessible and affordable, it would make an ideal pavement material. Although the water that has been cleaned by the travertine would not be fit for human consumption, by using the right equipment such as pumps with adequate suction & delivery water hose, the water could be relocated, delivered, and used for other purposes – including agriculture. While more studies and research needs to be done before this idea is put forward officially, flooding is still a major risk in many parts of the country, particularly with winter just around the corner.
Minimise flood damage
In the meantime however, there are plenty of methods that can be invested in to minimise the damage that flooding may cause. Water suction and delivery pumps and hoses are the ideal solution to reduce water on your site. UK company Winter Ltd, offer hoses that can assist during flood management. From medium duty to heavy duty water suction & delivery hoses, Winster have a varied range to support companies to manage any flood crisis. Ideal for a wide range of different industries, including pump and plant, cleaning & drainage, service & maintenance and plant hire.
If you would like to know more about Winster hose products, you can visit their website at www.winster-hose.co.uk or call on 01902 606010.
If you enjoyed this article you may also like to read our last post on flood management.