Munster Blackwater River Flood Alleviation Scheme

The overall objective of this project was the development of a flood alleviation scheme for the protection of the town of Fermoy for a theoretical 1/100-year return period event.

The scheme incorporated the construction of both temporary and permanent demountable walls as well as an earthen embankment on both sides of the Blackwater River, with ancillary drainage and stormwater pumping facilities.

Works on the North Side of the river included the design and construction of 900m long flood defence works incorporating 540m of permanent concrete retaining walls up to 5m in height, 630m of structural embankments up to 4m in height, 1.1Km of new sewers and river outfalls up to 600mm in diameter and the construction of storm drains and pumping stations behind the defences to prevent or substantially reduce the periodic localised flooding of lands and property in the area.

Works on the South side of the river included the design and construction of 400m of earth embankments up to 5m in height, 450m of stone clad concrete permanent floodwalls up to 4m in height, 400m of stone clad permanent concrete riverside floodwalls in combination with demountable structures, 50m of permanent concrete ground beams, underground sheet piles up to 6m deep, concrete bearing piles up to 10m long and diagonal ground anchors up to 10m long.

Recognition of our innovative civil engineering design solution has been achieved through receipt of the Industry Innovation Award for the Fermoy Flood Alleviation Scheme from the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI).

To find out more go to the Munster Blackwater River Flood Alleviation Scheme project page.