The feasibility of domestic raintanks contributing to community-oriented urban flood resilience

This interdisciplinary study investigates the technical and social feasibility of developing a domestic raintank programme to increase urban flood resilience. Hydrological modelling of different types of tank was used to determine the advantages and disadvantages of different models in controlling runoff. Qualitative socio-cultural interviews with local people revealed that raintanks were broadly acceptable to the local community. However, interviews with representatives from flood authorities suggest that resource constraints and technocratic industry norms focused on physical flood risk mitigate against consideration of a raintank programme. Our research suggests that there are transformative advantages to a more community-oriented approach to flood resilience, particularly the potential to change the relationship between the public and flood authorities away from a traditional model that pictures the former as passive, towards a process of mutual learning and two-way communication. Our research illustrates that this is not merely a matter of ‘good practice’, but a shift that can produce new practical solutions that a technical perspective alone cannot reveal.