Recent rainfall once again showed the importance of urban management preparedness for dealing with natural disasters, especially flooding and waterlogging in streets. The 55-millimeter rainfall in Arak over the past three days sent a significant volume of runoff into streets, canals, and watercourses; however, these rains passed without serious damage, once again bringing preventive measures and the readiness of urban service agencies into focus.
Although heavy rainfall can always create problems for cities with dense urban fabric, limited drainage routes, and hazardous نقاط, the experience of recent rains showed that implementing infrastructure projects and fixing vulnerable points can play a decisive role in reducing the risks caused by rainfall.
In this regard, the Arak municipality has, over the past months, put a set of construction and operational measures on the agenda to prevent waterlogging and reduce flood risk; measures some of which have focused on improving old infrastructure and others on increasing the capacity to pass and channel surface water.
Coastal wall; an important step to control flood risk
One of the most important measures carried out was the construction of a coastal wall, starting on the ninth of Esfand last year, with priority given to hazardous points. This project has been implemented from the end of Kahrud to Amir Kabir Park over a length of 650 meters, and has been placed on the agenda with the aim of securing the banks of the watercourse and reducing the risks caused by overflow and runoff.
The removal of the dilapidated slaughterhouse bridge was another infrastructure measure by the municipality to improve water flow and remove existing obstacles in runoff channels.
Alongside these measures, creating a diversion channel in Shariati Square to direct surface water along the stream was another project implemented to reduce water accumulation and prevent waterlogging in this area.
Reforming the surface water drainage network in streets
One of Arak’s major challenges during rainfall is water accumulation in some streets and areas with old infrastructure. For this reason, pipe-laying operations to channel surface water have been carried out in various parts of the city, including Imam Khomeini Street.
Crosswise pipe-laying in Sadeghieh neighborhood and Shahid Rajaei Street, as well as fixing remaining deficiencies from previous years, has also been pursued with the aim of increasing water transfer capacity and resolving waterlogging problems in these areas.
These measures are in fact part of reforming the city’s surface water management network; because simply collecting water from streets is not enough, and its rapid and proper transfer to the main drainage routes is also especially important.
Clearing streams and dredging 14 kilometers of the Dry River
Alongside construction projects, clearing and maintaining watercourses has also been among the important measures of the Arak municipality.
According to the measures carried out, about eight thousand meters of city canals have been cleared, and urban streams, especially crossing structures where there is a possibility of waste accumulation and blockage of the water path, have been cleaned.
Also, 14 kilometers of the Mirza Shirazi River, known as the Dry River, have been dredged. Clearing all streams leading to the city has also been carried out with the aim of facilitating runoff flow and preventing obstacles in the water passage route.
On the other hand, organizing discharge points and places where water accumulates as stagnant sewage is among the measures carried out; an issue that, in addition to reducing problems caused by waterlogging, is also important from the perspective of environmental health and citizens’ quality of life.
Training, drills, and equipping operational forces
Crisis management is not limited to implementing construction projects, and the readiness of human resources and access to suitable equipment are also very important when incidents occur.
In this regard, the Arak municipality has held crisis management training courses focused on dealing with waterlogging and how to remove it for maintenance crews and street cleaners so that operational نیروها can act with greater readiness and coordination when incidents occur.
The first drill for flood response and hazard mitigation was also held with the aim of improving the readiness of personnel and practicing methods of dealing with crisis conditions.
Purchasing the equipment needed for pumping operations was another part of these programs. Equipment such as submersible pumps and sludge pumps, special operational clothing, boots, and other necessary supplies were procured so that, in the event of waterlogging, urban service teams could intervene more quickly.
From preventive measures to the need for continued monitoring
The 55-millimeter rainfall in Arak over the past three days, and its passing without serious damage, provided an opportunity to assess the performance of urban infrastructure and the level of preparedness of the urban management system in dealing with natural disasters.
The set of measures carried out, from building the coastal wall and improving drainage routes to dredging rivers, clearing canals, and training operational forces, shows that prevention and preparedness can significantly reduce the costs caused by natural disasters.
However, surface water management is not a one-time mission and cannot be completed merely by implementing a few construction projects. Continued clearing of streams, monitoring hazardous points, ongoing reform of the surface water drainage network, and providing the necessary equipment must be pursued as a permanent program in urban management.
On the other hand, transparent reporting on project performance, remaining points, and future plans can provide the basis for citizens to more accurately evaluate the municipality’s actions.
Ultimately, the experience of recent rains showed that successful crisis management takes shape before the rain begins; where planning, implementation of suitable infrastructure, readiness of human resources, and continuous monitoring come together so that the city is less vulnerable to natural disasters.