We are conducting an integrated hydrological and flooding study for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – in connection with its loan package to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Our study will help justify the USD 120 million investments aimed at alleviating urban flood problems in the country’s capital city – Port of Spain.
Port of Spain has been subjected to recurrent flooding events for a long time. In order to reduce and overcome these urban flood challenges, IDB and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago are about to close a financing agreement for a series of flood alleviation projects. .
However, IDB requires an appropriate justification for awarding the loan package to the country. As such, they invited us to perform an integrated hydrological and flooding study for all the contributing catchments in the area, including:
- the Maraval River
- the St. Ann’s River
- town area drainage
This is needed to evaluate the conceptual designs for eight individual project packages within a broader scope of the contributing catchments, before design-built bidding begins. The scope of our study includes:
- rainfall and flow monitoring campaign
- integrated modelling study of the contributing catchments
- technical evaluation of conceptual designs for refurbishment of storm drainage network
- modelling software supply and training
- climate change impact assessment
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Our work boosts confidence in the proposed solutions. It will also provide the requisite information on catchment-wide policies needed to prevent further flooding problem – with respect to climate change and environmental impacts as well.
The project commenced in August 2013 and will be completed in February 2014.