Climate change and drainage

Nov 12, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – There is an urge for house lot owners across the country to embark on building their own homes primarily to save huge costs by contractors, but also from the pressure to erect a structure within a prescribed timeframe before the government reclaims the house lot.
Housing experts have argued that while the reclaiming of the house lots may be the proper action by the government against defaulters, it poses recipe for disaster. That said, it is incumbent for the government urban planners, infrastructure designers and building inspectors to make sure that all building codes rules are adhered to by the builders, especially a suitable drainage system to absorb the excess water from heavy rainfalls.
Given the recent flooding in Georgetown and the surroundings, it seems that after decades of flooding following heavy downpours, there is still no solution to this problem. Floods have been a major problem in the country not only causing extensive damage to property, but they have constantly disrupted the lives of people.
Many others and I are of the firm opinion that the crux of the problem is plain and simple. While flooding is considered a natural disaster, it can be controlled. In order to control or limit the impact of floods, every housing scheme in the country, should have a significant percentage of open land soil, at least about 30% in order to absorb the excess rainwater. In addition, the government should mandate that all housing schemes be designed with retention ponds/trenches, which serves a dual purpose.
One the excess rainwater will be drained into the ponds/trenches and thus prevent, alleviate or limit the impact of flooding in that community. And two, during the so-called “dry weather season”, the ponds/trenches will be sources of water for household use, animals to drink and to be used to help maintain cash crops. Simply put, there should be a limited amount of concrete on regular soil.
It appears that Guyana’s recent flooding woes can be traced to January 2005, when extreme rainfall and high tides caused devastating flooding on the coastal lowlands, in many areas including Guyana largest and most populous city, Georgetown which remained inundated for up to three weeks with water levels reaching chest height in many city homes.
Due to its age and to climatic pressures, the Dutch system has and continued to be under increasing stress.
Sea level rise, posing a significant threat to a reduction in the amount of water that can be drained by pumps and gravity.
If nothing else, the flood highlighted the fact of climate change and the vulnerability of the country’s drainage and irrigation system, which originated during the Dutch colonial period of the late 1600s. It has been expanded over time by governments.
Yet, better and more drastic changes are needed to upgrade the aged Dutch drainage system to absorb excess rainwater and prevent flooding.
As is evident, over the years, there has been breaches of the original 400-year-old Dutch drainage and irrigation system, which had flood control mechanisms for the rainy season such as a network of sluices and canals that not only help to drain away excess water, but the canals are also used to store water during the dry season for irrigation and household use.
After decades of constant flooding in the city and other low-lying areas along the coastal belt, it is time for the government to revisit and make the necessary changes to the current drainage and irrigation system in lieu of the dire threats posed by future climate change.

Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
Real Estate Builder
New York

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