The Gulf Must Act Now to Safeguard Against Future Floods

 

 

Recent flooding in our region highlights the urgent need for immediate implementation of storm resilience systems. The importance of this necessity cannot be overstated; we must act now to prevent further devastation in our communities.

 

With the looming threat of climate change, delaying action only increases the risks and costs of future disasters. In regions like the Middle East, where water runoff combines with sand, stormwater presents an even greater challenge, exacerbating environmental degradation and threatening both ecosystems and society.

 

Stormwater can overwhelm drainage systems, carrying contaminants into water bodies such as streams, rivers, and oceans, causing significant harm to aquatic life. To achieve comprehensive flood protection for cities, a holistic strategy that incorporates both urban and rural nature-based solutions is essential.

 

A key rural intervention is soil regeneration, a practice that can intercept runoff before it reaches urban areas, significantly reducing flood risk. One proven method for rainwater retention and carbon sequestration is holistic management, developed by Allan Savory, a regenerative grasslands expert and TED speaker. Savory’s approach has already transformed 29 million hectares of arid desert land into flourishing grasslands on five continents. The cornerstone of his methodology involves rotating livestock to regenerate ecosystems. According to the Savory Institute, desertified soil exacerbates rainstorm impacts because it fails to quickly absorb rain and cycle it through a healthy landscape. Effective soil management and desertification reversal are crucial, as “a 1 percent increase in soil organic matter allows one acre of land to absorb 20,000 gallons of water.”

 

In urban areas, rainwater falls on impermeable surfaces like concrete or asphalt, preventing it from infiltrating the ground. Instead, it flows over the surface, accumulating pollutants and debris. An efficient urban solution is the implementation of storm crates, which can be quickly installed compared to traditional drainage systems, saving both time and costs. These crates can be placed underground to collect and store runoff water for various properties, including hotels, airports, private homes, and highways, even in challenging high water table locations.

 

Storm crates capture rainfall, filter out sand and debris, and reduce flooding and erosion while preventing pollution. They are environmentally friendly, highly durable, and cost-effective to install, with substantial load-bearing capabilities. The captured water can be stored for future use or returned to the water table via exfiltration over the following months.

 

Local manufacturer Aquatech has engineered and implemented numerous storm crate solutions globally, with installations at The W Hotel in Dubai, highways in Qatar (including those for the Qatar World Cup pitches), the largest mosque in America in Florida, naval bases, the MI6 building in London, and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Aquatech co-founder Dylan Williams emphasizes the need for retrofit solutions that can be supplied and installed faster than traditional infrastructure upgrades. The 4.5km long installation at LAX was completed in just seven months at a cost of $3.5 million, compared to the original solution, which would have required new storm pipes, extensive excavation, and disruption, taking nearly three years and costing at least $15 million. This demonstrates the relevance and effectiveness of storm crate solutions in critical infrastructure settings such as Dubai International Airport.

 

The intensifying challenges posed by climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events make it imperative to protect our communities, economy, and vital infrastructure. By adopting innovative solutions such as storm crates and proactive strategies to combat runoff and flooding, we can fortify our societies against future disasters.