With so much rain the last few days, flood is on my mind. At a dinner last night I talked with a Water Engineer (someone who works at the Water Modelling Institute in Dhaka.) Here are some things he said:
1. It is too early to say if there will be flooding this year. Apparently the rainfall-to-date is about average.
2. A main reason for flooding is the simultaneous cresting of the Padma, Jamuna and Meghna rivers (or sometimes Jamuna and Meghna.) If this happens (mid-August, my friend thought) we will get Flooded.
3. The roads and alleys in Dhaka which go underwater during heavy rain are not "Flooded" per se - the water experts consider them drainage-congestion-induced waterlogging.
4. When Dhaka gets flooded water enters from the rivers through the drainage system.
5. Waterlogged places often get sewage mixed into the water because the sewage system is not isolated but rather designed so that normal rainwater enters and pushes the sewage out. So too much water allows the sewage into the streets. Ugh. Isn't it possible to build a one-way valve?
6. Dhaka once had a wonderful canal system that did not requires drains. Much has been written on this lately. I guess waterlogged streets remind people of the good old days.
Related Posts
Narrative Non-fictionI just re-read a speech on the long-form narrative that I find fascinating, because every time I re- "Oh Yeah, I Read That Book!"I was talking about flooding with my friend M when he mentioned that the Jamuna had gotten a lot bi
- The Garrulous Taxi DriverI had to take a CNG across town the other day. Turned out the driver was talkative with a lot of op
- Taxi DriverSometimes I commute in a taxi or CNG and get into conversations with the drivers regarding their oc
- The ConversationI am standing at one of my favorite streets in the city, in front of a tailor shop. Although the sh
- Two Points of ViewLittle Girl: Man, what a horrible morning! There I was, up bright and early, but Abbu and Ammu want