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  6. GWFlood project (2016-2019)

GWFlood project (2016-2019)

​​​The winter of 2015/2016 saw the most extensive groundwater flooding ever witnessed in Ireland. Homes were flooded or cut off, roads submerged, and agriculture disrupted by karst derived groundwater flooding, with some affected areas remaining inundated for months. In the aftermath of the floods, the lack of data on groundwater flooding and fit-for-purpose flood hazard maps were identified as serious impediments to managing groundwater flood risk in vulnerable communities. In response Geological Survey Ireland, as the leading national authority on groundwater science, initiated a new groundwater flood project, GWFlood, to address these deficits in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin and Institute of Technology Carlow.

 The remit of GWFlood was to advance understanding of karst groundwater flooding in Ireland, address the deficit of data available, and enable local and national authorities to make scientifically informed decisions regarding groundwater flood risk management. The study addressed the gap in groundwater hydrometric data by establishing a permanent telemetric network, as well as developing the historic groundwater flood map, and the predictive flood map. These maps showed maximum extent of groundwater flooding in Ireland, and the probability of several regions in Ireland to get flooded by groundwater.

The Groundwater flood map viewer, level data viewer and GWFlood project report are available at the following links:

 

Groundwater Flood Map Viewer

 

Groundwater Level Data Viewer

 

GW Flood Report

 

Groundwater level monitoring network

​Information on how karst groundwater systems respond to rainfall is crucial for flood management, but was largely absent in Ireland. In response, we set up an extensive monitoring network to record water levels at key sites and provide long-term data on flooding

Groundwater flood modelling

​Hydrological models were developed to quantify the relationship between rainfall and groundwater flooding in lowland karst groundwater flow systems, providing vital information for understanding the groundwater systems and to provide flood frequency estimation.

Mapping methodologies

​The ability to describe and map how floods develop and recede accurately and at a large spatial scale is crucial for effective flood risk management. We developed new methodologies for mapping groundwater floods using remote sensing techniques and prepared accurate groundwater flood hazard maps.

Historic flood map

​The historic groundwater flood map is a national-scale flood map presenting the maximum historic observed extent of groundwater flooding in limestone regions. The map is primarily based on the winter 2015/2016 flood event.

Predictive flood map

​A national predictive groundwater flood map was developed for limestone regions, including over 500 groundwater flooding areas. The map shows the probability of a flood event occurring in any year assuming current climate conditions.

Publications

​Further information can be found in published papers and conference proceedings.