Cork City Flooding: An Cork City Flooding: An Overview from North Lee Overview from North Lee

Environmental HealthEnvironmental HealthNovember 2009November 2009

Karen PrendergastKaren PrendergastA/Senior Environmental Health OfficerA/Senior Environmental Health Officer

North Lee Environmental Health North Lee Environmental Health DepartmentDepartment

BackgroundBackground Thursday 19Thursday 19thth of November 2009 of November 2009 November 2009: more than twice the average November 2009: more than twice the average

November rainfall amounts and more than November rainfall amounts and more than three times the average in some places…Cork three times the average in some places…Cork being one of those placesbeing one of those places

Two days rainfall of over 100mm were Two days rainfall of over 100mm were recorded over the period 18recorded over the period 18thth/19/19thth of of NovemberNovember

Highest daily rainfall was recorded in Cork Highest daily rainfall was recorded in Cork Airport on Thursday 19Airport on Thursday 19thth (51.2mm). It was the (51.2mm). It was the highest such value for November since 1991 highest such value for November since 1991 at this locationat this location

Inniscarra DamInniscarra Dam

Over this period of unprecedented rainfall Over this period of unprecedented rainfall water levels started to rise at the dam at water levels started to rise at the dam at ESB station in Inniscarra ESB station in Inniscarra

ESB commenced discharge of water from ESB commenced discharge of water from the dam downstream into the River Leethe dam downstream into the River Lee

ESB found it necessary to increase the ESB found it necessary to increase the discharge of flood waters from Inniscarra discharge of flood waters from Inniscarra dam to levels that would result in flooding.dam to levels that would result in flooding.

Picture of Inniscarra Picture of Inniscarra DamDam

Press ReleasePress Release Press release afternoon of 19Press release afternoon of 19thth of November from of November from

ESBESB Release of water at a volume of 150 cubic metres Release of water at a volume of 150 cubic metres

per second can be contained within the banks of per second can be contained within the banks of the Lee downstream without the threat of the Lee downstream without the threat of flooding flooding

Peaked at 535 cubic metres per second overnightPeaked at 535 cubic metres per second overnight Water entering the catchment rose to a peak of Water entering the catchment rose to a peak of

800 cubic metres per second (bringing the dam 800 cubic metres per second (bringing the dam 4cms below max. operating level)4cms below max. operating level)

Much greater flooding disaster was avertedMuch greater flooding disaster was averted

Lee WaterworksLee Waterworks

Location of Lee waterworks: downstream Location of Lee waterworks: downstream of Inniscarra damof Inniscarra dam

Supplies City Centre Area and North CitySupplies City Centre Area and North City

Due to flood alert: shutdown of the Lee Due to flood alert: shutdown of the Lee waterworks commenced by CC in order to waterworks commenced by CC in order to protect pumps and avoid contamination of protect pumps and avoid contamination of the public water supply as the pumping the public water supply as the pumping station was being flooded.station was being flooded.

Picture of Lee Picture of Lee WaterworksWaterworks

Friday 20Friday 20thth of November of November

Waterworks on Lee Road completely Waterworks on Lee Road completely submergedsubmerged

18,000 households in City centre & North 18,000 households in City centre & North City (without piped water supply)City (without piped water supply)

Widespread flooding in parts of City Area Widespread flooding in parts of City Area & West of Cork City& West of Cork City

Crisis Management Team Crisis Management Team MeetingMeeting

Crisis Management Team Meeting convened Crisis Management Team Meeting convened on Friday morning by City Council included on Friday morning by City Council included disciplines from HSE such as Environmental disciplines from HSE such as Environmental Health (PEHO attended)Health (PEHO attended)

Attendees at the meeting were informed that Attendees at the meeting were informed that flooding occurred at the Lee Road water flooding occurred at the Lee Road water treatment plant in the early morning as a treatment plant in the early morning as a result of severe flooding, the pump house was result of severe flooding, the pump house was under water (shut down to prevent possible under water (shut down to prevent possible contamination of water supply) and there was contamination of water supply) and there was possible damage to pump house.possible damage to pump house.

Continued-Continued-

First indications from the City Council: the First indications from the City Council: the pump house could be out of action for pump house could be out of action for possibly a number of days. But till flooding possibly a number of days. But till flooding receded no time frame was available.receded no time frame was available.

Map of affected area was distributed.Map of affected area was distributed. CC indicated that tankers of water would be CC indicated that tankers of water would be

distributed in affected areas (This was only distributed in affected areas (This was only sanitation water - not for use in food sanitation water - not for use in food preparation or drinking)preparation or drinking)

Stand pipes also provided for drinking waterStand pipes also provided for drinking water

Map of affected AreaMap of affected Area

Environmental Health - Environmental Health - IssuesIssues

1.1. A large number of food premises A large number of food premises without any piped water supply without any piped water supply (estimate number)(estimate number)

2.2. Food premises flooded (estimate Food premises flooded (estimate number)number)

EH BriefingEH Briefing PEHO briefed EHO’s on current situation from CCPEHO briefed EHO’s on current situation from CC

Huge concerns regarding all food premises in Huge concerns regarding all food premises in affected area but in particular those caring for the affected area but in particular those caring for the vulnerablevulnerable

Agreed that priority premises list drawn up to Agreed that priority premises list drawn up to include hospitals, nursing homes, prisons using include hospitals, nursing homes, prisons using enormous volumes of water in the preparation of enormous volumes of water in the preparation of food, drinking water and also for the purposes of food, drinking water and also for the purposes of sanitation.sanitation.

City Council agreed to supply tankers of City Council agreed to supply tankers of sanitation water to the list of priority sanitation water to the list of priority premises drawn up by Environmental Health premises drawn up by Environmental Health (List of 15 premises approx).(List of 15 premises approx).

Priority premises were then contacted & Priority premises were then contacted & informed that the piped water supply had informed that the piped water supply had been switched off & they were on a priority been switched off & they were on a priority list to get tankers of sanitation water which list to get tankers of sanitation water which would be distributed by the City Council.would be distributed by the City Council.

A potable water supply would need to be A potable water supply would need to be sourced for preparation of foodstuffs & sourced for preparation of foodstuffs & drinking purposes, i.e. bottled waterdrinking purposes, i.e. bottled water

UpdatesUpdates Update from City Council on Friday evening Update from City Council on Friday evening

indicated that they were able to maintain indicated that they were able to maintain water supply to the central island by bringing water supply to the central island by bringing into use the defunct water mains from Tivoli into use the defunct water mains from Tivoli & South Channel.& South Channel.

Press Release issued to media & Helpline set Press Release issued to media & Helpline set up by City Council for those in affected areaup by City Council for those in affected area

Over the weekend Crisis management Over the weekend Crisis management meeting convened on both Saturday & meeting convened on both Saturday & Sunday morning attended by Environmental Sunday morning attended by Environmental Health. ( These meeting continued until crisis Health. ( These meeting continued until crisis was averted.)was averted.)

EH ResponseEH Response Meeting convened on Monday morning Meeting convened on Monday morning

again update from CMTMagain update from CMTM Pump house would be out of action for a Pump house would be out of action for a

number of days possibly up to a weeknumber of days possibly up to a week Action EH: A letter drawn up to send out to Action EH: A letter drawn up to send out to

food premises in affected areas starting food premises in affected areas starting with high risk premises & pre schools with high risk premises & pre schools advising them of the need to provide a advising them of the need to provide a potable water supply & precautions that potable water supply & precautions that needed to be takenneeded to be taken

Visiting of premises affected by the floods Visiting of premises affected by the floods advising of cleaning, disinfection & advising of cleaning, disinfection & disposal of contaminated foodstuffsdisposal of contaminated foodstuffs

Follow on from letters premises were visited to Follow on from letters premises were visited to assess management of the situation in assess management of the situation in individual premises:individual premises:

Checklist drawn upChecklist drawn up Important factor: needed to provide a potable Important factor: needed to provide a potable

water supplywater supply Premises that did not demonstrate they were Premises that did not demonstrate they were

adequately managing with the situation adequately managing with the situation (officer was of the opinion there was a grave (officer was of the opinion there was a grave and immediate danger in consultation with and immediate danger in consultation with PEHO) served with a Closure OrderPEHO) served with a Closure Order

ChecklistChecklist

Water….Tanker or alternative Water….Tanker or alternative source??source??

Containers for water/boiling waterContainers for water/boiling water Limited menuLimited menu Flushing toilets (Both staff & Flushing toilets (Both staff &

patrons)patrons) IceIce Hand washingHand washing

Managing with the Managing with the Situation on the groundSituation on the ground

Food premises: Very inventiveFood premises: Very inventive Use of bottled water for preparation, Use of bottled water for preparation,

drinking & wash updrinking & wash up Limiting menus to eliminate/reduce the Limiting menus to eliminate/reduce the

preparation carried outpreparation carried out Some retail shops closed their delisSome retail shops closed their delis Some residential units using disposable Some residential units using disposable

cutlery/delph (to remove the need for cutlery/delph (to remove the need for washing)washing)

Some residential units getting catering inSome residential units getting catering in Some premises voluntary closed such as Some premises voluntary closed such as

restaurants, premises with seatingrestaurants, premises with seating

Restoration of SupplyRestoration of Supply

Over this week the problem with the Over this week the problem with the pump house at the Lee water works was pump house at the Lee water works was rectified and water was gradually re rectified and water was gradually re distributed around the City at low distributed around the City at low pressure (over three different stages)pressure (over three different stages)

When the piped water supply was When the piped water supply was restored: A boil water notice was put in restored: A boil water notice was put in place in the affected area. (no water in place in the affected area. (no water in pipes for over a week)pipes for over a week)

Supply was super chlorinated by CC.Supply was super chlorinated by CC.

Lifting of BWNLifting of BWN The City Council in consultation with the HSE: The City Council in consultation with the HSE:

Agreed on two clear water results obtained Agreed on two clear water results obtained before Boil Water Notice could be lifted in the before Boil Water Notice could be lifted in the affected areaaffected area

EH drew up a list of premises evenly EH drew up a list of premises evenly distributed around the affected area to take distributed around the affected area to take these water samples from: giving priority to these water samples from: giving priority to high risk premises/pre-schoolshigh risk premises/pre-schools

Contacted the laboratory ( all food samples Contacted the laboratory ( all food samples were cancelled & the laboratory agreed to take were cancelled & the laboratory agreed to take larger numbers of water samples with reduced larger numbers of water samples with reduced range of tests)range of tests)

Bacteriological (E.coli / Coliforms) Bacteriological (E.coli / Coliforms) Chemical (testing for chlorine only)Chemical (testing for chlorine only)

BWN LiftedBWN Lifted

The City Council lifted the boil water The City Council lifted the boil water notice on the afternoon of 2notice on the afternoon of 2ndnd of December of December 2009 in consultation with the HSE after 2009 in consultation with the HSE after two satisfactory water samples were two satisfactory water samples were received from both HSE & CC Laboratory.received from both HSE & CC Laboratory.

Lessons learntLessons learnt

Importance of updating paper files Importance of updating paper files on a regular basison a regular basis

Importance of having a good Importance of having a good working relationship with FBO’sworking relationship with FBO’s

Positives:Positives: Stronger relationship with the City Stronger relationship with the City

CouncilCouncil

ThanksThanks

Thanks to all in North Lee Environmental Thanks to all in North Lee Environmental Health for their help & co-operation Health for their help & co-operation during the Cork Floods.during the Cork Floods.

EHOA for inviting me to give this EHOA for inviting me to give this presentationpresentation