When urban development is undertaken without considering existing groundwater conditions, the result can be regular flooding that damages buildings and infrastructure.
When groundwater conditions cause regular flooding, practical engineering design is a vital part of the solution, says Ismail Mahomed, partner and principal hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting.
Recent SRK projects abroad and locally have demonstrated similar challenges related to groundwater flooding. In arid regions like the Middle East, urban and industrial development has significantly changed the geophysical and hydrogeological environment. In one project, this was exacerbated by the reclamation of land along the coast.
"In this case, a number of factors led to the increasing recharge levels to the shallow groundwater system," says Mahomed. "These included water losses from leaking potable water distribution networks and from sewerage systems - as well as excess water from irrigation systems. under natural conditions, the groundwater would have discharged into the sea or into a wadi - a valley, ravine or channel that is dry outside od the rainy season."
