Constructing Excellence in Wales :: ICM: Just how integrated are you?
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ICM: Just how integrated are you?
Traditional management approaches tend to artificially separate land management from water management which often result in unsustainable practices that can ultimately lead to water pollution, increased flood risk to communities and ecosystems degradation. In addition, traditional flood risk management approaches are centred on structural flood defences such as floodwalls, which are restricted by high capital, maintenance and upgrade costs, and cannot be raised indefinitely in response to increasing flood risk.
ICM focuses both on reducing flood risk and on delivering wider benefits such as water quality improvements and other ecosystem services. By viewing the river catchment as a system, ICM results in more sustainable ways of managing runoff. This catchment-wide approach is commonly based around measures that enhance, restore or mimic natural processes, referred to as Natural Flood Management (NFM). There are several NFM techniques available and these can bring multiple benefits at catchment level including flood protection, erosion reduction, enhanced water quality, carbon storage and biodiversity.
Arup and its partners recently developed and delivered an ICM training course for professionals through the Built Environment Sustainability Training (BEST) programme in Wales. The course is now available to any group or organisation working in the water environment. You can sign-up by clickinghere.
After July 2015 ARUP and BEST will be offering this course, or tailored versions of it, to all interested parties at a cost – for details contact the team at CEW on 02920 493322.