Groundwater Flooding | floodzee-informatics

Groundwater Flooding –Groundwater flooding is a particular type of flooding in certain parts of Ireland. It is typically associated with geological features related to limestone geology. The primary features which affect groundwater flooding include Turloughs or winter lakes and Karst limestone features including swallow holes and underground rivers.

In the Autumn as groundwater rises the ground slowly but surely fills up with groundwater. As soils and the groundwater become saturated such features as swallow holes and turloughs begin to flood. This happens every year to some extent. In years where there is excessive prolonged rainfall these features fill and then overflow.

The effects of groundwater flooding can be severe and prolonged. It is common for groundwater flooding to last for many months and well after other flood events have subsided.

Groundwater flooding is then exacerbated by river flooding on top. They sometimes combine to create additional severe flood risk. Many of the areas worst affected are away from population centres. However typically groundwater flooding can cut off roads or railways and access for months on end.