Properties in Blackburn and Darwen are at risk of flooding from surface water, rivers and sometimes sewers. See below for details on the different types of flooding and be sure to check your flood risk to see if you could be affected.
Surface Water Flooding
Surface water can be difficult to predict or pinpoint and occurs in prolonged and heavy downpours where water cannot drain away fast enough. It often occurs when the ground is already saturated from previous rainfall and cannot hold any more water and when drains and sewers are already overloaded or blocked. Surface water flooding can also occur in the summer after periods of warm dry weather when the ground is very hard and dry and unable to absorb any water.
River Flooding
River flooding can cause extensive damage and occurs when a river or stream is unable to cope with the water draining into it from the surrounding area. Rivers can overflow and flood nearby properties and low-lying land. Fast-flowing water can cause structural damage to buildings and can be a threat to the safety of people and animals and has the power to wash away large objects including cars.
Reservoir or Dam Failure
Reservoirs can hold large volumes of water above ground level. The water is contained by dams and whilst dam failure is very uncommon in the UK, a failure would result in a large amount of water being released very quickly. If water is released from a large reservoir, the flooding effects from it could be felt for several miles.
Groundwater Flooding
Groundwater flooding occurs when levels of water in the ground rise above the surface. It is most common in low-lying areas that lie over permeable rocks that water can soak into or pass through. Water may not even show at the surface for rising groundwater levels to pose a threat. Buildings and basements can be at risk of damage, and groundwater flooding can also occur in conjunction with other types of flooding.
Sewer Flooding
Sewer flooding occurs when they become blocked, or when they are overwhelmed by heavy rainfall. The chance of sewer flooding occurring depends on the capacity of the local sewerage system and the amount of rain that falls. Sewerage flooding can be internal if it enters a building, or external if it floods gardens and roads.
Flood Watch 