Introduction
In the event of a large storm surge or an influx in extreme weather events, many utilities fall under great risk. Flooding can cut off power to buildings with generators in un-waterproofed basements, and strong winds or extreme cold can reduce the energy efficiency of insufficiently insulated buildings. Proposed solutions to the prevention of this damage include raising utilities to high levels and incorporating drainage ditches.
Source: States At Risk[1]
Figure 1: Effects of rising sea levels on Boston
Solution
To protect resources in buildings there are two main possibilities: either elevating resources above the water level or preventing flood waters from reaching those resources. Elevating resources entails the relocation of expensive materials or utilities to a level where standing flood water would not affect them. This would be a very expensive and lengthy process. Though there is no easily accessible estimate to this cost, it would be comparable to essentially reconstructing a whole utilities system. The labor cost alone, for a project that may take months, would be enormous. In addition there would be huge social costs while the building is closed during that duration. This solution would be very effective, but due to the concerns of time and money, preventing water from entering is more reasonable approach.
The second option, the installations of drains to bring water down and away, seems more realistic. The installation of channels is a slightly less lengthy construction job than raising utilities that would not obstruct the use of each building. Similar to the movement of utilities upwards, in this solution more important/more at risk buildings can be prioritized.
Two common drainage types are French drains and trench drains. French drains are subsurface drains, installed about 2-3 feet beneath the surface to carry away subsurface water to a septic tank, away from buildings.[2] They are hidden beneath the surface and are relatively inexpensive. For example, Houselogic, a company that installs French drains, estimates that drains cost about $10-$16 per linear foot. and that a drain costs about $12,000 to install a 1,500-square-foot basement 6 feet deep.[3]
Trench drains, on the other hand, are surface drains that divert water from the surface.[2] They are visible, slanted to channel water away from buildings and are more expensive, at $30-$150 per linear foot.[4] The price varies so widely due to various factors such as whether the drains are installed during construction of a new building or retrofit and the type of material used for the drains. Trench drains are very popular and are even already implemented in the newest of MIT’s buildings such as the Ray and Maria Stata Center.
By Lucy Zhang
References
- States At Risk. (2016, October 27). Massachusetts’s Heat Threat. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from http://statesatrisk.org/massachusetts/extreme-heat
- Lake, T. (n.d.). French Drain Vs. Trench Drain Vs. Swale. Retrieved November 28, 2017, from https://www.tlake.com/blog/french-drain-vs.-trench-drain-vs.-swale
- Huber, J. (2016, August 24). French Drains: When You Need Them. Retrieved November 28, 2017, from https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/french-drains-when-you-need-them/
- Knaggs, M. (2015, August 25). How Much Does It Cost To Install A Trench Drain? Posted by Mark Knaggs on Aug 25, 2015 9:13:00 AM. Retrieved November 28, 2017, from https://www.highgrove.net/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-install-a-trench-drain