Mallow Flood Study & Munster Blackwater Drainage Scheme, Co.Cork
Client: Office of Public Works
Mallow is located 35km north of Cork City on the N20 Cork-Limerick Road and the N72 Killarney to Fermoy Road. Mallow town is divided by the Blackwater River with the main street and the commercial centre of the town located to the north of the river. Arup was originally commissioned to prepare a flood study report for Mallow.
This included:
- Procuring and managing a topographical and hydrological survey
- Procuring and managing a site investigation
- Analysing historical and current flood data, rainfall data etc.
Using the information from above a hydraulic model of the Blackwater was prepared. Subsequently, after analysis of the model, a preliminary flood defence scheme was prepared, inclusive of a cost benefit analysis.
In 2004 Arup was commissioned to carry out the detailed design for a flood protection scheme to protect Mallow from flooding from the Blackwater, the main water course that runs through the town. The Hospital Stream and Spa Glen tributaries flow into the Blackwater. The flood defences along these tributaries protect against flooding from the Blackwater in conjunction with a flood event occurring in these secondary catchments. A joint probability analysis was carried out to investigate the most significant combined event.
The proposed flood defence works for Mallow have been broken into 3 distinct projects, defined by region as Mallow North, Mallow South and Mallow West.
2006 saw the completion of an advanced phase of the scheme which was predominately in public lands. The main contract commenced in the spring of 2008 and is due to be completed in Spring/Summer 2009. Detailed design has commenced on the Mallow South and West Schemes and it is hoped to go to construction in Autumn 2009.
