Experts needed as a ‘fresh pair of eyes’- Jeremy W. Hodge
He said, “We brought persons from abroad to look at our systems to get a fresh pair of eyes so that moving forward when Jeremy is no longer here and other guys are no longer here we will have something to pass down on how everything works.”
Dr Nick P. Jarritt, Director for the Water Management Amec Foster Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd., conducted a study that focused on the options for flood reduction in Road Town and other areas while mapping the levels of risks, identifying cost-effective drainage improvements, and developing drainage policies and plans.
The study began in May of 2017 and it’s said to be completed by July of 2018.
In explaining his point, he recalled an experience where a business owner was having issues with flooding on her property that she never had before and the department brought all their engineers to look at the problem but they could not figure it out and one of the engineers said “he wish so and so was here because he could have figure out the problem but he passed on”.
“What happened is that we had to troubleshoot, trial and error, and it took a couple weeks for us to figure it out. So with this study, Dr Jarritt created a map showing all the different areas where the water comes from and where it leads to. We have expanded our road system and we have done a lot of new infrastructures but what we need to look at now is how we can improve and upgrade our drainage systems.”
Hydrology study useful in rebuilding
Mr Hodge further explained that the study is a very beneficial tool to guide the Virgin Islands (VI) in its rebuilding process.
He explained, “This study serves as a guide for the BVI government as we rebuild our infrastructure, in particular; roads, to ensure that experts will be aware of the high-risk areas and also give some guidance on designs on drains and other related systems to mitigate the chances of floods.”
In addition, the Deputy Secretary pointed out that the study includes a comprehensive programme that will develop a ‘contingency plan’ for the territory to clear all the ghuts and drains and include the use of sandbags.
“We are actually using some of the areas highlighted in our study to give some of those high-risk areas immediate attention,” Mr Hodge said.
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11 Responses to “Experts needed as a ‘fresh pair of eyes’- Jeremy W. Hodge”
You dont mess with Jahs master plan He designed and created the islands fir self ckeansing but man in his own “ wisdom “ feels he can BETTER the Creators hand work. We will drown in our iwn ignorance and Greed
A survey of the lay of the land, coupled with other collected data, will provide information on what drainage structures/components, size and number of components, and where they are needed to arrest/alleviate the flooding problems. Drainage systems are designed to handle events up to a certain level. For example, if system is design to handle a 10-year event, a 25-year, 50-year, 100-year........etc rain event will result in flooding. The 07 August 2017 rain event was probably a 100-year+ event.
The landscape in the Purcell, Pasea, Frett Yard.......etc was changed but the drainage system didn’t keep pace with the changes. Several watersheds, ie, Johnson Ghut, Butu Mountain, Fort Hill.....etc drain into small drainage channels that discharge into the sea. The drainage channels needed to be properly sized to safely carry the volume of runoff. The system needs to be designed with manholes, inlets/catch basins, under ground pipes, ditches .......etc to limit the spread of water on road during and after a heavy rain.
Consequently, as the territory rebuilds from the historic flood and the 2 decimating Cat 5 hurricanes, it needs a comprehensive drainage master plan as the blueprint to guide the rebuilding effort. A drainage master plan addresses a myriad of drainage issues, ie, slopes, pipes sizes, road crowns, gradients, channel sizes, conveyance, drainage appurtenances, drainage detention and retention, retaining walls, maintenance strips, road spreads, ponding, hydroplaning……etc.
Moreover, uncontrolled or poorly managed drainage runoff, pose a serious risk to life and property; investment in and effective implementing of drainage a master plan is needed to protect life and property, reduce operating cost……….etc. Further, coupled with effective drainage system design and construction, is an effective drainage system maintenance. Every effort should be exerted to prevent dumping in ghuts and other drainage conveyance systems, periodically clean ghuts and other systems and avoid filling in ghuts without creating alternative drainage paths. Blocked or clogged drainage systems results in flooding upstream, ie, roads, property.........etc. It is vital and critical to avoid blocking the discharge point of drainage conveyance systems to prevent stacking and flooding upstream. No consultant nor engineer is needed to establish an effective drainage system maintenance programme.