1. Impact of the November 2009 F
I N Floods
on the Water Infrastructure
and Customer Service
November 2009
presented by
Michael O’Brien M.I.E.I., C.Eng.
Senior Engineer cork city council
and
Sean Lynch M.I.E.I.
Senior Executive Engineer cork city council
4. Rainfall Comparisons
Nov 2008 Vs 2009
Location Total Rainfall Total Rainfall
November 2009 (mm) November 2008 (m m)
Cork Airport 245.2 79.4
Ballyvourney 431.5 125.8
Ballingeary 43 4.8 145.6
Macroom 512.5 128.5
6. Water Service Response
Team
(1) Located at
Anglesea Street
to:
• Secure and
maintain
alternative water
supply
• Provide drinking
and sanitary water
• Ensure water
quality is advised to
customers
8. Civic Emergency Declaration
• 19th nov 2009 unprecedented flooding 535m3 / sec
Released
• Property Damage
• Flooding of public roads
F
• Public buildings
• Cork City Council Water works
• CRSIS DEEMED TO BE CIVIC EMERGENCY.
RESPONSE AND PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE
WITH CORK CITY COUNCIL EMERGENCY PLAN
• Cork city council co--ordinated multi agency
co
response to include
• Cork county council
• Fire Service
• HSE
• Defence F
D Forces
• Garda Siochana
• Civil Defence
9. Crisis coordination team
• Established on 22nd nov 2009 replacing call
centre Set up on 20th nov
• To provide communication link to public in a
dedicated multimedia room.
• Free phone No activated on 23rd nov 2009
• 30 staff on roster basis from 08.00 to 22.00
7 Days for duration of emergency
• Information management system modelled on M.E.P.
• CCR liaised with :-
:-
Environment
Roads
R.A.C.
Housing
External Agencies
Public
CCR 3500 calls until Friday Dec 4th
2009
11. Media Liaison Team
• Aim to provide regular updates and
releases via City Council web site
• To local , national press, radio, TV.
etc.
• 42 press releases / updates issued
• Press releases included water
distribution points, public welfare
measures,
measures boil water notices etc.
etc
• No of visitors 108,408
• No of pages viewed 342,99
342 99
12. Alternative Water
Distribution
• 70% of city served by lee road 90,000
people reduced to 50,000 With out
water
te
• City council response plan to serve
vulnerable population and institution
with drinking water, sanitary water,
using.
• Tankers
• IBC’s & Bowsers
IBC s
• Bottled water
13. Tankers
• On site early afternoon 20th Nov
2009 at 6 locations
• Water sourced at mahon and little
island from cork county council
water supply
• Each tanker supplied by local co-op
co-
or contractor
• Max No of tankers 32
• Filling time approx 30min
• Tankers capacity 9500L to 30,000L
14. Tankers
Drinking Water D
D W Distribution
(domestic Use Only) Q.C.
• Each bulk tanker prior to use was steam
washed and cleaned
• Prior to dispatch water from each tanker
was sampled and tested for chlorine
residual
• Water tested in lab for coliforms (total &
faecal)
f e )
• Consumers advised to boil water prior to
drinking
15. Tankers :
Tankers used to
• Accompany fire
tenders to fires
• provide drinking
water at designated
locations ( max 15 )
• pump water to
hospitals etc
etc.
17. Bottled Water :
• Sourced and distributed
from 3.00pm on the 20th
Nov.
• Distribution point set up
at kinsale road CAS
• Supplied to :- Hospitals ,
Nursing Homes,
Vulnerable Households, ,
institutions
• Supplied by :- Cork City
Council ,Civil Defence,
, ,
Army, Garda,, Voluntary
Groups
• 300,000 Litres of bottled
water was distributed
during emergency
18. IBC’s & Bowsers
Sanitary Water Distribution points
(Domestic Use Only)
• Approx 40 locations
• Using 1000L intermediate
bulk containers IBC’S
• Operational from 8.00am
to 8.00pm from 22nd Nov
2009
• Dedicated tankers to fill
these
• Water not suitable for
drinking
19. Operation School Run
To have all schools
back before Monday
30th Nov 2009
• Dedicated team of
plumbers reporting
e e t
to Ex. Engineer
C.C.C
• Contacted 30
schools
• Filled school water
tanks using
dedicated tankers
supplied by campions
with pumps & hose
reels
21. Lessons Learned
• Importance of multi agency coordinated
response
• Manning distribution points good P RP.R.
• Establishment of public confidence
early very important
No panic
No draw off
• Materials on ground earlier than needed
• Strategic importance of tankers
• What would have happened if the event
accoured in summer
• Importance of website as a communications tool
•NNeed to install dry risers in schools, hospitals
etc. to facilitate easy filling of water tanks
22. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Restoration of
Lee Road Water Works
andd
Drinking Water to the Mains Network
23. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Water Works and Distribution System
• Water Works Plant is located at the Lee Road
• It abstracts and treats approximately 46,000 m3/day
from the River Lee
• Operates 24 hours / 7 days a week
• It accounts for 70% of the City Councils water
customers
• The remaining 30% is served by the County Council
plant at Inniscarra
24. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Water Works and Distribution System
• Treated water is pumped to 4 reservoirs located on
the higher ground at the North West of the City
• Low Level – Shanakiel - 76m O.D.
• Intermediate Level – Harbour View - 118m O.D.
• High Level – Knocknaheeny – 145m O.D.
OD
• High Level Tower – Knocknaheeny – 161m O.D.
26. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Water Works and Distribution System
• Water is distributed by gravity without additional
pumping
• Approximately 650 km of distribution network
• Pipe types include Ductile Iron, Cast Iron & Steel up
to 800mm diameter
• the City is divided into 48 DMA’s (District Meter
y (
Areas) covering 45,500 property connections
27. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Water Works Shut Down
• The decision was made to shut down the Lee Road
Water Works due to
– likelihood of rising water levels reaching the
g g
electrical switch gear
– the risk of contamination to the public water
supply
• All power to the plant was confirmed to be off by
the Senior Electrician at 3:40 am 20th November
29. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Pumping out flood water
• The Fire Service Army Navy and Civil Defence were
Service, Army,
on site to assist the Council personnel
• Flood levels had receded sufficiently by Friday
afternoon 20th to allow access to the plant
• Pumps were delivered and pumping out commenced
• Over 14 different pumps were put into operation
p p p p
• They varied in size from 12 inch down to 3inch
• Pumping was substantially completed on Sunday 22nd
30. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Removal of Water Works Pumps
• As the water levels dropped the various electrical
equipment were removed for repair / replacement
• A specialist electrical contractor, Bolomore
Enterprises Ltd., was employed to carry out this
work
• Raw Water Intake Motors were removed on
Saturdayy
• Sunday they started removing the main pump
motors for the rising mains
• There were 17 large motors to be removed and
restored
31. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Removal of other electrical equipment
• The likelihood of the motors being restored was higher
due to the fact that they were older (1970’s – 80’s)
• The motors were transported to Dowling Electrical in
Millstreet for refurbishment, including 2 days oven
drying
• High and Low voltage switchgear removed for repair
• High Voltage Circuit Breaker sent to UK for repair but
had to be replaced
• Various dosing and mixing pumps required removal
and overhaul
32. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Restoration of electrical equipment
• At the same time work was ongoing to remove any
sludge from the raw water pump house and the pure
water basin. The pump house brushed and hosed
down.
• Tuesday 24th - Two Raw Water Pumps were installed
and started
• Initially this water was put through the settlement
y p g
tanks to the filter beds and let run to waste
• A temporary chlorination dosing system was setup to
disinfect the pure water basin. Water was dosed at
p
30mg/litre before entering the pure water basin
33. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Restoration of electrical equipment
• Wednesday 25th - Two Low Level Pumps installed
and started along with dosing and backwash motors
• Thursday – One Intermediate Level Pump installed
and started
d t t d
• Friday – One High Level Pump installed
• Saturday – Started high level pump
34. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Scouring and Filling 1st R
S i d Filli Reservoir – L
i Low Level
L l
• Wednesday 25th – The Pure Water Basin emptied after
disinfection
• Old Filter Beds No.’s 7 to 14 used to fill Pure Water Basin
• Started pumping water to the low level reservoir with
Chlorine dosed at 2mg/litre
Chlo ine 2mg/lit e
• 900m3 scoured from the reservoir to waste
• Reservoir filled over night
• Water tested for chlorine near the outlet of the reservoir
– 1 mg/litre
• Public were notified of Boil Water Notice
• HSE approval received for distribution of water on Friday
27th – 7 days after shut down
35. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Intermediate and High Level Reservoirs
• Similar procedures followed for both the Intermediate
p
and High Level Reservoirs
• Saturday 28th clearance received for Intermediate
Level Reservoir ready for water distribution
• Sunday 29th clearance received for High Level
Reservoirs ready for water distribution
36. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Response to Conserve Water Supplies
• Th was approximately a day’s water supply but we
There i t l d ’ t l b t
did not know how long the plant would be out of
production
• 4.30 am Friday 20th , in order to conserve supplies for
the critical institutions, mainly Hospitals, the supplies to
DMA’s without Hospitals were shut off.
p
• At 7:10 am a press release was issued listing the Main
Areas with Disruption to Drinking Water Supply
37. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
DMA’s that retained City Water Supplies
• High Level DMA s – 3 out of 9 DMA’s left on
DMA’s DMA s
Trunk + West + South West – Orthopaedic Hospital
• Intermediate Level DMA’s - 2 out 6 DMA’s left on.
Trunk + South East – St. Patrick's Hospital
• Low Level DMA’s – 2 out of 11 DMA’s left on
SA Trunk – South Infirmary + Saint Finbarrs Hospital
Middle C Trunk – Mercy Hospital
• Bons Secure + Cork University Hospital
y p
On County Supplies - not effected
38. Map of DMA’s Initially Shut Off
Cork City's
C k Cit ' response t the flooding
to th fl di
and water crisis of November 2009
39. Cork City's response to the flooding
and water crisis of November 2009
d t i i fN b
• I id Room set up at the
Incident R h
Water Management Office on
Anglesea Street
• Co-o d at o of all ate
Co-ordination o a water
supplies plus the
reconfiguration of water
network by the Water
Response Teams
p
• Manned 7 days a week from
7:30am to 9:00pm
• Daily meetings held to
disseminate information
between all parties internal &
external
40. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Work organised from Water Incident Room
• Response teams from various departments assigned duties
– Distribution of water and pressure checking
– Locations for Standpipes & manning for public access
– Locations for Sanitary Water Units
– Securing Tankers, Bottle Water and Sanitary Water
Tanks,
Tanks there operation / maintenance / distribution
– Tanker filling & their distribution
– Water for Schools to re-open
re- p
– Testing of tanker water for domestic use
41. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Work organised from Water Incident Room
• Once the water returned to the system staff organised
– Filling the Distribution Network in a controlled manner
minimising the risk of breaks
– Fl shing discoloured water from the network
Flushing discolo ed ate f om net o k
– Pressure checking to ensure the network was charged
– Testing water for boiled water notice to be lifted
– Clearing blockages on service connections for restored
water supplies
42. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Alternative Water Supply for City Centre
• A recent connection to the County water main network
was id tifi d as a significant alternative water supply
identified i ifi t lt ti t l
• The connection comes from North Esk in the County
into Tivoli Docks capable of feeding the City centre
p g y
island
• The existing main to the city centre is liable to breaks
from shock loadings therefore the main was turned on
slowly over a 24 hour period starting at 11am Friday
morning
• It supplied 240m3/hr to the city centre area
43. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Other County Water Supplies Points
• 3 existing Cork County Council supply points located on
the South Side of the City
– Ardrostig
– Chetwynd
– Mahon
• 2 addition supply points were identified
dditi l i t id tifi d
– Douglas Road
– Kinsale Road
44. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Additional County Supply Points - South Side
• Douglas Road connection - sufficient to supply water to
the S th
th Southern A
Area South W t DMA
S th West
– 5,500 Population
– 2,100 Households
• The Kinsale Road connection boosted existing County
supplies to enable water to reach 3 of the higher Low
Level DMA’s that were shut off – 3,200 Households
,
– Booster NE1
– Booster NE2
– SA West
Resulted in reduced pressures at high points
45. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Night Time Water Supplies
• Mahon supply had sufficient capacity to feed further in
towards the city centre
• It had insufficient capacity to feed SA Trunk and SA
Central during the day due to their topography and a
small diameter pipe network
• There was sufficient capacity for night time supplies
these DMA’s
• Supplied 9pm and 7am each night
• Allowing there tanks to fill over night
46. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Hydrant Standpipe Water Supply Points
• Hydrant locations were identified in areas with water
close the boundary of areas without
• 6 hydrant standpipes were provided at locations that
would not cause a hazard
• Suitable for vehicles to park nearby
• Signs erected for users to boil the water
• 2 council personnel manned each hydrant 8 am to 8 pm
7 days / week
• This had the advantage of providing information to the
public and prevent abuse of the system
47. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Restoration of Piped Water Supplies
• The Boil Water Notice was limited to North of the North
Channel of the River Lee, with HSE approval, because there
was no water in mains for up to 7 days + avoiding any
confusion for the public
p
• Friday 27th - Low Level Reservoir was gradually opened
• First section of the network was filled
• Personnel deployed to scour discoloured water from system
at hydrants
• Allowed release of air plus monitoring the water progressing
through the network
• Network filled in a controlled manner filling section by
section
48. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Testing Restoration Water Supplies
• Water Samples taken by the Laboratory staff at consumers
premises
• Bacteriological and residual chlorine test were carried out
• Same locations sampled on 3 consecutive days
• HSE criteria for lifting the Boil Water Notice was 3 clear test
results
• To avoid confusion the Boil Water Notice was left in place
until all north side areas were clear
• Due to size of the area involved HSE agreed 3 samples per
DMA carried out by the Council
• The HSE carried out additional testing
49. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Restoration of Water Supplies to DMA’s
• Similar procedures for Intermediate & High Level Reservoirs
• Restoration was substantially complete North of the River
by Sunday evening 29th
• A team of plumbers were employed clearing blockages and
air lock in service connections
• HSE lifted the Boil Water Notice on Wednesday 2nd
y
December
• Water restored to the 2 DMA’s South side with night time
supplies with out the need for a boil water notice due to
water being present in the mains and replaced nightly
50. Cork City's response to the flooding
City s
and water crisis of November 2009
Restoration and Improvements On-going
On-
• County Council Supplies returned to normal levels as the
Lee Road Water Treatment Plant capacity increased
• The last additional supply was closed on 23rd December and
DMA Boundaries were restored to there original formation
B d i t d t th i i lf ti
• The repair of the flow meters and pressure reducers
damaged are on going, delayed due to the recent cold
going
weather spell
• The Treatment plant returned to full capacity early in 2010
