Name : Annita Nurhayati (25-2016-050)

Major : Environmental Engineering

Urban Flood
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry. The European
Union (EU) Floods Directive defines a flood as a covering by water of land not normally
covered by water. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the
inflow of the tide.
Flooding may occur as an overflow of water from water bodies, such as a river, lake, or
ocean, in which the water overtops or breaks levees, resulting in some of that water
escaping its usual boundaries, or it may occur due to an accumulation of rainwater on
saturated ground in an areal flood. While the size of a lake or other body of water will vary
with seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melt, these changes in size are unlikely to
be considered significant unless they flood property or drown domestic animals. Floods can
also occur in rivers when the flow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel.
Case example flood, in 2007, the worst floods in memory flooded about 70% of Jakarta,
killing at least 57 people and sent about 450,000 fled their homes. In 2012, floods inundated
hundreds of houses along the main waterways Jakarta and displaced 2,430 people. In 2013,
many parts of Jakarta were inundated after heavy rains killed at least 20 people and sending
at least 33 502 to flee their homes. In 2015, floods inundated many parts of the Megacity of
Jakarta and caused estimated losses of $ 234 million. In August 2016, eight sub-districts in
South Jakarta and East Jakarta inundated affecting 10 538 households. The annual floods in
Jakarta is strong evidence that rapid urbanization in Jakarta should be reduced.

Flooding occurred because, at least once a year the plains around large rivers are flooded.
This is due to the amount of water that rivers bring with them, because of heavy rainfall.
Thunderstorms can cause flash floods, in which small rivers can swell quickly and carry up to
ten times the normal amount of water.

Rivers that flow slowly carry water, sand and silt. They build up their own beds, making
them higher than the land around them. The Hu. Flooding here builds up slowly but causes
more damage because more land is affected.

Coastal regions can also be affected by flooding. After earthquakes on the ocean floor
tsunamis can bring up to 15-metre high waves and flood the coast many miles inland.

Floods are also caused by humans. Trees and plants normally help absorb too much water.
When forests are cut or burned down, water from rainfall flows down barren land and
produces mudslides. Too much water pressure on dams can lead to cracks in the concrete or
even cause a dam to break completely.

The beneficial impacts of floods:

 1. Recharging water sources: Floods are natural hydrologic processes and provide
variable river flows and are an intermittent source of freshwater supply, filling
natural depressions and recharging groundwater. Inundation of the flood plains
helps recharge the groundwater, which is an important source of drinking water and
is essential for agriculture. They are an important source for restocking local man-
made water sources such as ponds, reservoirs, dams and irrigation channels,
meeting round-the-year demand.

2. Agriculture: Floodwaters carry nutrients and sediments, which are deposited on

flood plains, enriching the soil. Rice paddies are flooded deliberately to take
advantage of this natural fertilization process.

3. Fishery: A river basin is an ecological unit interconnecting upstream spawning

habitats with downstream rearing habitats for a variety of species and other aquatic
systems. Seasonal habitats on the flood plain, created by variable flow regimes, are
essential for various stages of the life cycle of species. Floods provide an ecological
trigger for both the spawning and migration of certain species. Some species spawn
on the flood plain itself, whereas others migrate upstream to spawn in the river
channel, providing an abundant supply of fish and alternative income sources at the
household level.

4. Rejuvenation of the river ecosystem: The river ecosystem is a critical habitat for the
biota: fish, wildlife and waterfowl. Seasonal variability and variable sediment and
flow regimes help maintain ecological biodiversity in rivers and flood plains.
Wetlands or swamps located in flood plains serve as natural buffer zones for
excessive flood flows and play host to many birds, fish and plants. Supplementary
livelihoods in the form of recreational and eco-tourism activities can be made
possible by the presence of the rich river ecosystem, bestowed with abundant flora
and fauna. Surface runoff and flooding can help wash down pollutants and
contaminants deposited on land caused by the intensive use of pesticides and
fertilizers. They also flush out accumulated organic substances brought by untreated
drainage water from farmlands, stockyards, factories and domestic use and restore
the ecological health of stagnant rivers and streams by diluting them and providing
clean water.

The negative social impacts of flooding:

1. Flooding of areas used for socio-economic activities produces a variety of negative

impacts. The magnitude of adverse impacts depends on the vulnerability of the
activities and population and the frequency, intensity and extent of flooding. Some
of these factors are shown below;

2. Loss of lives and property: Immediate impacts of flooding include loss of human life,
damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, non-functioning of
infrastructure facilities and deterioration of health condition owing to waterborne
diseases. Flash floods, with little or no warning time, cause more deaths than slow-
 rising riverine floods.

3. Loss of livelihoods: As communication links and infrastructure such as power plants,

roads and bridges are damaged and disrupted, economic activities come to a
standstill, resulting in dislocation and the dysfunction of normal life for a period
much beyond the duration of the flooding. Similarly, the direct effect on production
assets, be it in agriculture or industry, can inhibit regularly activity and lead to loss of
livelihoods. The spill over effects of the loss of livelihoods can be felt in business and
commercial activities even in adjacent non-flooded areas.

4. Decreased purchasing and production power: Damage to infrastructure also causes

long-term impacts, such as disruptions to clean water and electricity, transport,
communication, education and health care. Loss of livelihoods, reduction in
purchasing power and loss of land value in the flood plains lead to increased
vulnerabilities of communities living in the area. The additional cost of rehabilitation,
relocation of people and removal of property from flood-affected areas can divert
the capital required for maintaining production.

5. Mass migration: Frequent flooding, resulting in loss of livelihoods, production and

other prolonged economic impacts and types of suffering can trigger mass migration
or population displacement. Migration to developed urban areas contributes to the
overcrowding in the cities. These migrants swell the ranks of the urban poor and end
up living in marginal lands in cities that are prone to floods or other risks. Selective
out-migration of the workforce sometimes creates complex social problems.

6. Psychosocial effects: The huge psycho-social effects on flood victims and their
families can traumatize them for long periods of time. The loss of loved ones can
generate deep impacts, especially on children. Displacement from one’s home, loss
of property and livelihoods and disruption to business and social affairs can cause
continuing stress. The stress of overcoming these losses can be overwhelming and
produce lasting psychological impacts.

7. Hindering economic growth and development: The high cost of relief and recovery
may adversely impact investment in infrastructure and other development activities
in the area and in certain cases may cripple the frail economy of the region.
Recurrent flooding in a region may discourage long-term investments by the
government and private sector alike. Lack of livelihoods, combined with migration of
skilled labour and inflation may have a negative impact on a region’s economic
growth. Loss of resources can lead to high costs of goods and services, delaying its
development programmes.

8. Political implications: Ineffective response to relief operations during major flood

events may lead to public discontent or loss of trust in the authorities or the state
and national governments. Lack of development in flood-prone areas may cause
social inequity and even social unrest posing threat to peace and stability in the
region.