Heavy rain and flood events have a damaging and sometimes detrimental impact on the infrastructure of cities, towns and rural communities. As seen during Alberta’s 2013 flood, important roads and highways were washed away, energy infrastructure was damaged, and government and municipal buildings were flooded in addition to private homes and businesses.
To mitigate these and the other damaging impacts of flooding, upgrading infrastructure is an important step forward. Options for rebuilding include; structural investments for flood mitigation, raising low-level developments and prohibiting basement construction, replacing sewage systems and improving stormwater infrastructure [1]. Upgrading and rebuilding infrastructure to handle flood waters and further protect communities and important economic and social centres is a valuable investment for the future.
Upgrading existing infrastructure to handle flood waters is a form of mitigation that enhances structures and protects against future flooding. Mitigation options include; flood defenses for homes and businesses, incorporating additional heavy rocks, improving river bank infrastructure including debris flow berms, water storage and retention facilities. Overall, facilitating river flow while protecting the integrity of infrastructure can mitigate against the damaging impacts of flood water [2].
Upgrading infrastructure efforts are already occurring in Alberta as a result of the June 2013 flooding. Approximately $110 million has been put aside by the Government of Alberta for rebuilding transportation infrastructure and improving roads and bridges. Specific infrastructure has been identified as high-risk and vulnerable as a result of the 2013 Flood, therefore, upgrading efforts are occurring to address identified vulnerabilities [3].
In Alberta, both the provincial and municipal levels of government were responsible for rebuilding public infrastructure after the flood. Infrastructure such as highways, bridges, schools and health facilities were rebuilt by the provincial government while municipalities worked to restore pathways, parks, important road infrastructure, transit routes and other transport and municipal infrastructure [4].
Rebuilding flood damaged infrastructure depends on provincial or municipal responsibility, therefore, jurisdictions are taken into account depending on where flood damage occurred.
Funding provided by the Government of Alberta was used within the province to rebuild after the 2013 flood in southern Alberta and the Wood Buffalo region. Municipalities within these areas were responsible for addressing specific damage and rebuilding destroyed areas.
Upgrading existing infrastructure was necessary in southern Alberta and the Wood Buffalo region to rebuild after extensive flood damage. Enforcing these rebuild efforts was not necessary, however, in the recovery phase of reconstruction ideas have emerged to upgrade current infrastructure to lessen and prevent future flood damage. Measures discussed by the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction include; raising buildings with lower-floor elevations, prohibiting basement developments in building within the floodway, replacing sewer systems with independent sanitary and storm sewers, implementing municipal stormwater management strategies, and providing incentives for homeowners to install backwater valves, disconnect roof leaders and weeping tiles, as well as ensure parking lot grades direct stormwater away from buildings [5].
However, these approaches remain unenforceable.
Upgrading existing infrastructure helps to prevent future flood damage to homes, businesses and other developments. Various measures such as improved stormwater management and enhanced structural mitigation can help flood water to move more freely resulting in less damage to infrastructure and the surrounding environment.
No, upgrading existing infrastructure would not help to address drought conditions.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.