Identification of the Areas at High Pluvial Flood Risk Based on Urban Hydraulic Modelling. Case Study for Tulcea Municipality

Abstract

Pluvial floods are frequent phenomena in Romania occurring during torrential rainfall, causing significant damage. Pluvial floods occur due to extreme rainfall when the natural infiltration of excess water into the ground is artificially reduced and when runoff into urban areas exceeds the capacity of existing drainage systems. In urban areas, pluvial flooding is more frequent due to extended impermeable areas, buildings, and undersized drainage systems. Tulcea municipality is characterized by periodic rainfall flooding events with consequences on properties and communities, infrastructure, and on the economic activities. In the second cycle of implementation of the Floods Directive 2007/60/EC, 17 Areas of Potential Significant Flood Risk (APFSR) pluvial source areas were identified, covering 19 municipalities and towns, for which pluvial hydraulic models were carried out. Tulcea municipality was one of the cities designated as having areas of potential significant pluvial flood risk. Hydraulic modelling results have been used for the construction of pluvial flood hazard and risk maps, these being the first pluvial maps reported by Romania to the European Commission. Based on these maps, critical drainage areas have been identified at the level of Tulcea Municipality and some potential flood risk reduction measures have been recommended.

Keywords

• urban floods
• hydraulic modelling
• pluvial hazard and risk
• tulcea