Water management system

Abstract

A flood mitigation system for collecting, redirecting and storing water that enters the protected area 10 e.g. houses, factory etc. near mountains 12, the system including an arcuate e.g. horseshoe ch

Description

24 05 24 The present invention relates to a water management system for managing water in a landscape and to provide ecological optimization. 5 Background In recent times countries around the world have experienced an increase in the risk and severity of floods, due to the effects of climate change and global warming. This has meant those areas that have experienced regular flooding have seen an increase in the severity of 10 such flooding, be it an increase in the water level or an increase in the occurrences of such flooding. While other areas of the world may be experiencing such flooding in areas where there had previously been none. In both these cases, such areas are often ill-equipped for when such floods occur. Therefore, there is a need to provide these areas with a system that can be used to limit the damages caused by flooding. 15 It is further noted, that certain areas may be at a higher risk of flooding due to their geographical locations, for example, settlements built in valleys or at the feet of mountains can experience heavy rain flow that creates flooding as the water runs off the sides of the mountains. Therefore, the flood protection system needs to be configured to be used in such areas and be ready to be used at any moment as the timing of such rains may be 20 unpredictable. It should also be noted that it is essential that this flood mitigation system be environmentally friendly to not contribute to the environmental problems described above. Therefore, it would be preferable for the system to require little to no power to operate thereby reducing the carbon footprint produced by operating the system and may allow the system to be operated 25 using renewable energy produced at the site where it is being used. Further, the system should be configured to have minimal effect on the surrounding environment, for example, the system should reduce where possible the area needed to implement the system thereby reducing the amount of the landscape that would need to be excavated to install the system. 30 The system should also preferably contribute to the local environment and ecosystem such as providing habitats and managing water flow to produce a variety of local environments. The system would also preferably be long-lasting. This is to say the system should have a long operational lifespan thereby reducing the amount of maintenance that would need to be 24 05 24 performed on the system and would reduce the number of times such a system would need to be repaired or replaced. Relevant prior art includes; US 2017 / 0328017; US 2016273181; US 2014227035 and GB 2527491. 5 There is therefore a need to provide a water management system to address the above needs, in addition to, as an alternative to or as an improvement of known systems. Summary The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims. 10 The claimed invention relates to a system that can be installed in construction projects to provide improved flood defenses. Wherein said system is easily scalable to suit the size of any project, from a single structure to larger development projects. The present invention provides a flood mitigation system, that comprises an arcuate channel positioned along at least a portion of the perimeter of the area to be protected, wherein the 15 channel is configured to collect rainwater and runoff water entering the protected area. The system further comprises one or more storage systems coupled to at least one end of the arcuate channel for storing the collected water, to either use the water within the protected area or remove the water from the protected area. Further, the system comprises a drainage system coupled to at least one of; the channel and / or the one or more storage systems, such 20 that when the storage system is at maximum capacity the collected water flows into the drainage system to be removed from the protected area. Wherein each of; the channel, the storage systems, and the drainage system are coupled by pipes or trenches that allow the collected water to flow between the systems. More specifically, the claimed invention provides a system that can be incorporated into 25 areas that are prone to flooding. Wherein the system is configured to use the local topography of the subject area, surrounding the protected area, to collect water that may otherwise cause flooding. Wherein this collected water can then be stored within suitable storage facilities on or off-site, in the protected area, or transported away from the site to a remote storage facility. 30 The claimed system comprises a channel that would be incorporated into a slope or other topography around the protected area, such that water on the slope flows down the topography towards the channel. For example, during rain storms or other potential flood events, the water would flow over the topography and into the open channel. Further, it is 24 05 24 noted that the base of the channel is configured to be curved or sloped such that the water collected in the channel continues to flow down the channel without the need for any additional pumping due to the water momentum from flowing down the slope of the topography. 5 It is noted that this channel may be positioned at different heights relative to the protected area, so long as the water flowing over the surrounding topography flows towards the channel, either before reaching the protected area, or flowing out of the protected area into the channel. This means that in some cases, the topography may be made artificially, for example in a relatively flat area the user can dig a trench around the protected area with the 10 channel inside the trench, such that the water in the surrounding area will flow towards the channel, via the trench. This may be required, for example, in an area where there is a body of water such as a lake or river that is prone to overflowing potentially causing floods in the surroundings, even when the topography is relatively flat. In these cases, the user may position the trench for the channel between the protected area and the body of water 15 regardless of the surrounding topography, as the banks of the trench may be used to create an artificial topography to guide the flood water from the body of water into the channel. In use, the channel described above would have an arcuate shape, wherein the sides of the channel are curved as this would increase the volume of the channel compared to a linear channel between the same endpoints. Further, the curved sides of the channel would help 20 dissipate the force of the water flowing through the channel over a wider area thereby reducing the amount of wear on the channel and helping to reduce the risk of the water overrunning the channel as it would require more force to flow over the curved sides of the channel. Additionally, the base of the channel should also have an arcuate shape such that there is a curve or slope between the center of the channel and each end of the channel. 25 This sloped base forces the water in the channel to flow toward the ends of the channel where it may flow into a storage system. It is noted that the gradient of this slope would be sufficiently steep so that water within the channel flows to the end of the channel without the need for additional pumping. More specifically, the sides of the channel may be shaped such that the channel has a V, or 30 egg-shaped profile, wherein the lower portions of the channel have a smaller width than the higher portions. With such a profile the flow of the water through the channel is not dependent on the volume of water in the channel. More specifically, the flow rate of the water in the channel would be consistent regardless of whether there is a large or small volume of water within the channel. This allows the system to provide a consistent flow rate to the 35 downstream portions of the system, thereby reducing the risk of such systems being 24 05 24 damaged when there is a large volume of collected water. It is also noted that this profile may also reduce the risk of water pooling at the bottom of the channel or at least reduce the amount of water that would remain within the channel. It is noted that such water may damage the lining of the channel, therefore by reducing the amount of water that could pool 5 within the channel the risk of such damages occurring will be reduced. The channel described above is preferably a horseshoe shape that surrounds the area to be protected such that the sides of the channel can be sloped away from the central point. It is noted that the sloped sides of the channel would likely follow the slope of the topography that the channel is mounted to. This ensures that the water flows down the channel under its 10 momentum without the need for additional pumping. However, it is also noted that the channel may include pumps, or other suitable features to assist the water flowing through the channel when necessary. It is noted that this channel would be installed within the ground, at a lower point in the topography of the site, to increase the amount of water gathered by the channel, but also to 15 reduce the visibility of the channel to not disturb the aesthetics of the site. For this reason, the channel would be installed below the typical eye level of a user at the protected site. This reduces the risk of the system disrupting the natural beauty of the site in which it is installed. This may be especially useful as the channel would preferably not have a cover or other mechanisms to close the channel as the channel would need to be functional at all times, as 20 heavy rain can be unpredictable in areas with large topographies, such as mountain valleys. This channel would also be lined with a suitable water resistance material which would prevent water from leaking through the sides of the channel and is suitably strong to withstand the force generated by the flood water traveling through the channel. This prevents the water from irrigating into the surrounding soil thereby protecting the integrity of 25 the channel. To this end, the channel would preferably be coated in a layer of concrete. This is because the concrete is water resistant and provides a high strength to withstand both the weight of the water within the channel and the impact caused as the water travels within the channel. However, it is noted that different types of concrete may be used to form the inner layer of 30 the channel, as different types of concrete may have more strength or flexibility to allow better absorption of the impact caused by the flowing water. For example, the system may use reinforced concrete which uses steel beams to strengthen the concrete. Instead of reinforced concrete, the system may use micro-reinforced concrete, which uses micro-steel mesh to reinforce the concrete, instead of steel bars or beams. It is noted that 35 this mesh allows the concrete to have more flexibility allowing for better force absorption, 24 05 24 and would be more chemical resistant compared to the steel beams. This may be especially useful in this system as the channel would be exposed to large quantities of water when in use, which may rust or otherwise wear the reinforcing beams in the regular reinforced concrete. 5 Another factor that needs to be considered when choosing the specific concrete to use is the ability to shape and scale the material while keeping costs to a minimum. This is because the concrete needs to be flexible enough to form a sloped channel therefore the large ridged support beams of the reinforced concrete may not be suitable. Further, these channels may need to cover a large area depending on the site being protected, therefore 10 the use of materials like the micro-steel mesh may be too expensive in the quantities needed to protect a large site, such as a village or town. Additionally, the excavation needed to make a sufficiently large channel to introduce a layer of reinforced concrete, especially as this may cause unnecessary damage to the environment surrounding the site. Another consideration is the amount of maintenance that is required to maintain the channel. More specifically, a 15 user would need to consider the cost and work needed to repair or replace the concrete layer within the channel as regardless of the material chosen the channel would still be worn over time. However, there is also a need to consider the need for maintenance and the environmental effect of using such materials. For example, creating a sufficiently thick wall of cement may 20 require a larger trench to be dug out to accommodate the material. Additionally, the material will need to be maintained which may require large sections of the wall to be replaced over time. Both of these tasks will require heavy machinery, especially for transporting materials and tools to and from the site. Such machinery can produce a lot of pollution. Additionally, the larger trenches will do greater damage to the area surrounding the protected area 25 destroying more of the natural environment. Also, the materials used in constructing and maintaining the cement walls may pollute the surrounding environment. Therefore, a preferable material for lining the channel would be a layer of geosynthetic cementitious composite mats, wherein these mats comprise a concrete-filled geosynthetic material / mesh. It is noted that the geosynthetic material would be more flexible and have a 30 greater chemical resistance than the metallic mesh. Additionally, these mats at significantly thinner compared to a layer of reinforced concrete, allowing the channels to be made small, or at least would reduce the amount of earth that would need to be excavated to form the channel. Further despite its thin dimensions these mats would still provide sufficient strength to support the water within the channel, and the added flexibility would reduce the wear due 35 to impacts. This means that the mat can be easily adapted to a range of different channels, 24 05 24 especially as the claimed channels can be constructed with a range of different sizes and can have differently shaped profiles. These mats can be used in any of these channels by simply laying the mats over the excavated trench. It is also noted that these composite mats are designed to have an operational lifespan of at 5 least 120 years before the mats would need to be replaced, therefore meaning that the channel would need little maintenance over this relatively large time frame. Further, composite mats may be easily replaced, when damaged or worn over time. Therefore, the amount of maintenance work required to repair the channel is kept to a minimum, this may also mean that such maintenance work may be carried out without the need to close off the 10 system, thereby reducing the risk of the channel not being functional when a flood occurs. The composite mats also allow the lining of the channel to be replaced without the need to remove the wall, with minimal impact to the channel wall, or sections of the wall of the channel, this removes the risk of causing damage to the surrounding environment when the channel needs to be replaced, as the wall of the channel would not need to be dug out of the 15 ground like it would if the wall was made from re-enforced concrete should maintenance need to be performed on the channel wall it should be possible to do such repairs with or without the mat in place. It is also noted that such mats would require less machinery to transport and implement. More specifically due to the relatively light weight of the mats compared to the alternative 20 materials described above, as such fewer and / or smaller vehicles are required to transport the materials to the site of the channel, additionally, to install the mats the user need only cut them to size and lay them into the excavated channel, burying or otherwise sealing the ends or edges of the mats into place. With these mats, the channel can be formed while producing less pollution and reducing the damage done to the surrounding area. 25 In some cases, the user may further reduce the environmental impact of the channel by replacing some or all of the geosynthetic cementitious composite mats with a geosynthetic organic composite. As with the other mats these organic mats still comprise a geosynthetic material / mesh, however, the cement containing composite within the mesh would be replaced with an organic composite. It is noted that the organic composite will contain 30 organic matter that will be able to survive and possibly grow within the mesh. This organic material may be able to absorb some of the water within the channel and when grown may act as a filter able to remove some of the small particulate within the water. These organic composites will also create less pollution when being produced, when compared to the inorganic composite as it will require fewer raw materials that need to be 24 05 24 mined. Additionally, the organic material will be able to absorb carbon dioxide from the air helping to further reduce the carbon emissions produced by the claimed system. It is noted that the organic composite mats will operate similarly to the inorganic mats, in that the user needs only line an excavated trench with the mats to form the channel. The organic 5 mats have sufficient flexibility to match the shape of the channel’s profile and can be easily installed by laying the mats in place and securing one or more edges in place. These mats also have sufficient strength to support the weight of the water within the channel, and due to the organic component absorbing the water and particulates in the channel the organic mats may be more water resistant than the inorganic counterpart. As with the inorganic mats the 10 organic mats have a long service lifespan and so require little maintenance. However, it is noted that the organic components of the composite may be damaged by a lack or excess of water. The latter is not a problem as the channel is configured to relocate water quickly and would not usually be used to store water for long periods of time. In some cases, the environment surrounding the channel may be exposed to high levels of heat and / or sunlight 15 which can dry out the organic components in the composite. This can be countered by supplying the channel with water from the downstream water storage system to water the mats and stop the organic composites from drying out. However, as the channel is used for flood prevention it is unlikely that there would be a lack of water in the areas in which the channel is used. 20 Another advantage of both the organic and inorganic mats, in addition to their flexibility and durability, is their ability to blend in with the area surrounding the channel so as not to disrupt the scenic beauty of the protected area. More specifically, the smaller channel used with the mats means that less of the area has to be excavated helping to conserve more of the surrounding environment. Further, over time the composites within the mats may change 25 colour to help blend in with the surrounding environment. More specifically, as water flows over the mat particulates, such as sediment, from the water may coat and / or be absorbed by the composite, or become trapped within the mat’s mesh. Either way, the composite mats will change colour over time, causing the mats to more closely match the colour of the ground surrounding the channel. This prevents the channel from disrupting the scene 30 environment surrounding the channel and ensures the channel is not seen as an eyesore by the users in the protected area. It is noted that in some cases, the user may use a combination of organic and inorganic mats to line the channel. The organic mats help to reduce carbon emissions in the surrounding area, while the inorganic mats provide greater strength and durability. In some 35 cases, the user may place the inorganic mats at the bottom of the channel where the most 24 05 24 weight would be exerted, also because this would prevent the organic composite from becoming over-saturated with water should water be stored in the channel. The inorganic mats may also be placed in the sections of the channel that receive the majority of the impact force when water initially enters the channel, thereby helping to reduce the amount of 5 wear caused to the channel for a given window of time. Another consideration when forming the channel is the need for channelization. This refers to features designed to slow the flow of water, either entering or flowing through the channel. These features would help reduce the amount of force exerted onto the arcuate channel which would further reduce the risk of wear and damage to the channel lining. These 10 features are positioned in the path of the water flowing through the system so the feature may be incorporated into the walls of the channel or the area surrounding the channel in the path of the water flowing over the local topography. When these channelization features are installed within the channel, the features may comprise curves within the lining of the channel walls, such as bumps, concave holes, or 15 grooves within the walls of the channel. In other cases, the features may comprise walls or beams that protrude from the walls of the channel in the path of the flowing water, regardless of the design of the feature, they serve the purpose of slowing the flow of the water within the channel. This is useful to the system as it reduces the wear on the lining of the channel and may also reduce the wear to the systems downstream of the channel as the flow rate 20 through the system would be reduced. In other cases, where the channelization feature is positioned outside of the channel, the site may use vegetation or natural material to slow the water entering the channel, such as trees or hedges planted in the area around the channel, or barriers such as rocks or walls that are placed near the outer edge of the channel thus providing a natural barrier that can slow and 25 direct the water flowing towards the channel. This natural barrier is useful as it can protect the walls of the channel, as the impact force created by the water entering the channel would be decreased and may now be dissipated over a wider area of the channel. Additionally, these barriers can reduce the potential risk of an overflow of water into the protected area, as the rate water enters the channel would be reduced allowing the water to be processed 30 before exceeding the capacity of the channel, the slower water flow also has a lower risk of flowing straight over the channel walls due having a lower momentum on entering the channel and a lower risk of over-topping the channel wall. It is noted that in the preferred embodiments these channelizing features may be formed when excavating the hole to form the channel by shaping the soil in the hole. After this, the 35 flexible composite mats can be placed over such features and will bend around the features, 24 05 24 such that the feature can affect the water in the channel, without compromising the lining of the channel, this allows the channeling features to be constructed without risking the integrity of composite mats that form the channel lining. Lastly, the channel may include a filtration feature configured to remove any debris within the 5 collected water, this may be necessary for areas where the water flows down a mountain or similar slope where the water may pick up rocks, leaves, and other particulates as it travels toward the channel, this filtration feature may be in the form of another barrier around the edge of the channel or a partial cover over the channel, such as a mesh fence or mesh cover over the channel. These barriers would allow water to pass through the barrier while 10 preventing any debris from entering the channel. Such barriers are a preferable form of filtration as they can passively remove debris from the water, without the need for mechanical components. Further, these barriers allow the debris to be removed while the channel remains functional. Such barriers are necessary to prevent debris from damaging the lining of the channel and possibly damaging or blocking the pipes and downstream 15 elements of the system. Once the channel is complete the ends of the channel would connect to a suitable storage unit(s) configured to store the run-off water traveling from the channel. Such storage units may be positioned above or below ground. It is noted that the below-ground storage system is preferable, as the system would preferably be configured to move water through the 20 channel without the need for pumps, or similar mechanisms, with an underground storage system the channel may have a steeper gradient allowing the water to flow into the storage system using gravity alone, more easily when compared to an above ground storage system. However, it is also noted that the system may utilize both an above-ground storage system 25 and an underground storage system. In some cases, the end of the channel may be coupled to a valve or similar mechanism configured to direct the water exiting the channel to one of the storage systems. This mechanism may be controlled using a control system configured to actuate the mechanism, thereby redirecting the water, when the water level within one of the storage systems reaches a predetermined threshold. 30 In other cases, the two storage systems may be coupled together, such that the water initially flows into one of the systems, and then when the water level within the first system reaches a threshold it may overflow from the first system into the second system. By configuring the storage system to allow any excess water to flow directly into another storage system, this method removes the need for the redirecting mechanism described 35 above, as such a mechanism would likely require power to operate, especially as it would 24 05 24 need sensors to monitor the water level in each storage system. This in turn reduces the power consumption of the system, thereby reducing the carbon footprint created by operating the system, and would also remove the need to perform regular maintenance on the control system and redirecting mechanism. 5 It is also noted that the connection between the channel and the storage system may be configured to allow the water to flow back into the channel. This is necessary as it would allow water to re-enter the channel when the storage system has reached its maximum capacity, thereby preventing damage to the storage system when the water in the system exceeds the capacity of the system. This would also allow the channel itself to be used as 10 temporary storage for example, when the storage system is being emptied, or when a valve is redirecting the water to an alternative storage system. Examples of possible storage systems include water storage tanks that may be stored in an above-surface or below-surface facility, which would be connected to the channel through suitable pipes to allow the water to controllably flow into the storage tanks. It is noted that an 15 underground facility would be preferable as it would allow the water to flow to the tank using gravity alone, or if pumping is required it would use less power compared to an abovesurface facility as the water would be accelerated due to gravity. It is noted that in some cases, the connecting portion between the channel and the underground storage area would be configured to be cyclonic to help separate any debris that is within the collected water. 20 More specifically, the connecting portion would be shaped such that the water moves in a spiral as it travels down from the channel to the underground storage, this way centripetal force may be used to separate any debris or particulates that are within the water. Once separated the particulate and debris can be filtered from the water before it enters the storage system. This reduces the risk of such debris blocking the components of the storage 25 system or otherwise disrupting the flow of the water between the channel and the storage system. This filtering may be achieved using features on the bottom of the connecting portion such as nets or off-shoot channels that will collect the separated particulate and debris from the bottom of the connecting portion, similarly, the connecting portions may include filters that span the cross-section of the channel to remove larger debris within the 30 flowing water as it passes through the connecting portion between the channel and the storage system. It is also noted that such filtering features may also be included along the base of the channel to prevent debris from entering the connecting portion, especially as it may be easier to remove large debris such as stones, or pieces of the surrounding trees, from the 35 channel rather than trying to remove them from the pipes of the connecting portion. Also due 24 05 24 to the channel's larger size, the user may utilize larger filtering features such as a structure that raises out of the wall of the channel to form a physical barrier or grooves or trenches within the wall of the channel designed to trap debris as water flows over the features. It is noted that, in some cases, the channel may be configured to be coupled to multiple 5 tanks simultaneously, such that any overflow from the first tank would flow into a subsequent tank. In such a system each tank may comprise its valve such that the water flowing from the channel couple be directed to a specific tank or subset of tanks within the storage system, this would allow the system to isolate specific tanks, for example, to empty or remove a tank with a water level above a predetermined threshold, without the need to shut down the entire 10 system. This would allow the system to operate continuously, even when the storage tanks need to be changed, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the storage system, or potential flooding caused by the water in the system overflowing. In some cases, the water storage system may comprise water features that are either part of the protected site or near its location. These water features may include lakes, ponds, or 15 rivers, whether natural or man-made during the construction of the site. In either case, these features would provide a suitable area for storing the run-off water that enters the channel without risking damage to the protected site. Of these features a river may be preferable as it can then carry the excess water away from the protected site, whereas the water within a lake is static and therefore would have a maximum capacity, which would likely be less than 20 the amount of water that could be carried by the river. However, it is also noted that the use of lakes or even ponds may be preferable as they can be man-made as part of the construction at the protected site. It is also noted that ponds and lakes may incorporate plants that can be used to purify the water, as some plants may be able to remove pollutants within the water stored there, such as reeds, pond weeds, or 25 certain algae. It is noted that using such water features poses a potential risk of flooding. As previously noted, these water features would have a certain capacity of water they would be able to store, or carry from the channel, once this threshold has been reached the water feature would be at risk of overflowing resulting in flooding in the area around the feature, especially 30 as there would be no way to pump out the excess water. This in turn may lead to water feeding back into the channel which may also overflow, flooding the protected area. To help avoid this possibility the system may use a combination of different storage systems. For example, the ends of the channel may include one or more valves configured to controllably direct the water exiting the channel to one of several storage systems, alternatively, the 35 water-storing feature may be coupled to one or more water-storing tanks directly, such that 24 05 24 when water within the water feature overflows, or reaches a predetermined threshold, the water in the feature flows into a pipe or secondary channel which will carry the excess water to the water storage tank. This hybrid system would provide all the benefits of the individual systems as described above; however, the two systems would help to make up for the other 5 systems’ drawbacks. Another alternative storage system would be the inclusion of a sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), more specifically, these are systems that comprise a plurality of connected systems that are configured to mimic natural drainage regimes within an urban environment. A SuDS would comprise a source control system for collecting the water to be processed by the 10 system, in the case of the claimed system this would be the channel as described above, a treatment system configured to filter and purify the collected water, a retention system configured to store excess water within the system and lastly an infiltration system configured to discharge the water within the system into the surrounding ground where it can be absorbed without the risk of flooding. Such a system would allow the runoff water 15 entering the system to be stored and slowly discharged into the surrounding area over time. Thereby providing a system that can store and remove the collected water away from the protected site without the need for any mechanical systems to be installed. This reduces the amount of power and pollution generated by the flood protection system. In a SuDS the pre-treatment system may comprise one or more vegetated swale or filtered 20 trench. Wherein the swale comprises linear grass-covered depressions that lead surface water overland from the drained surface to the downstream systems. It is noted that these swales and trenches may include other types of vegetation rather than just grass, such as reeds or other plants that may help filter the water as it passes through the swale or trench. These features would act as a pipe carrying the collected water from the channel to the other 25 downstream features. However, the specific choice of features also provides the added benefit of using the vegetation within these channels to filter pollutants out of the collected water before it reaches the downstream systems. The retention system may comprise water features such as ponds, retention basins, or wetlands. Like with the water features described earlier, these features may be man-made 30 within the area surrounding the protected site. As noted, these features would be used to store a volume of water that had been collected from the channel. It is noted that the SuDS system may comprise several of these features that are interconnected such that the overflow from one of these features can be directed towards one or more downstream features thereby ensuring that a given feature does not overflow or flood. 24 05 24 Lastly, the infiltration system may comprise features such as infiltration trenches and soakaways, that mimic natural recharge, allowing water to soak into the ground. Wherein the infiltration trenches comprise a shallow, excavated trench that has been lined with a geotextile and backfilled with stone to create an underground reservoir. Often these trenches 5 would be positioned close to any body of water that is susceptible to flooding, such as a lake or river to catch any run-off water, it is noted that the closer these trenches are to the body of water the more effective they may be. While the soakaways comprise a hole in the ground that collects water over time and allows it to dissipate either through the walls of the hole or through evaporation, such holes could be implemented anywhere in the protected site, 10 especially in areas where surface water tends to form during heavy rainfall to help gather and dissipate such water. Some soakaways are filled with old bricks, clinker, or gravel, however, these materials severely reduce the soakaway’s storage capacity, more modern soakaways are, usually, empty chambers that allow the collected water to dissipate into the surrounding soil. 15 The system may further comprise additional SuD systems located within the protected area. These SuD systems would be configured to manage any surface water within the protected area, such as any rainfall that lands within the protected area or any water that flows over the channel, these SuD systems comprise smaller systems configured to gather and irrigate the water within the protected area without the need for a storage or retention system. These 20 SuD systems may soakaways, tree pits, and / or rain gardens that would be installed within sections of the area to be protected that may be susceptible to surface water, or at risk of flooding should the channel begin to overflow. It is noted that these SuD systems may further comprise pipes configured to transport excess water into the same local drainage system used in the rest of the claimed systems. 25 The soakaways within the protected area would be configured as described above. In contrast, the tree pits would comprise an irrigation hole similar to the soakaways, with a tree replacing the gravel within the pit. This system would still allow water that flows into the pit to be irrigated into the surrounding soil. However the tree would act as both a filtration system and a channeling feature for the water flowing into the pit as it passes through the roots of 30 the tree. Once in the pit, the collected water may be irrigated into the surrounding soil or absorbed by the planted tree. A rain garden functions in a similar manner to the filtration pits described above, with the garden comprising a pit or plurality of pits, which would gather and retain a small amount of water like a small pond, this pit would then be filled with vegetation for filtering and absorbing 35 the collected water, it is noted that in some cases, the pit of the rain garden may be filled 24 05 24 with gravel or soil in a similar manner to the soakaways, with the vegetation being planted on top of the material in the pit. As with the tree pit, the vegetation within the rain garden is able to absorb some of the gathered water, as well as filter the water passing through the pit. Also, as with the soakaways the gathered water may also irrigate through the walls of the 5 garden into the surrounding soil to dissipate the collected water. Regardless of their design each of the SuD systems designed above would allow any surface water that forms within the protected area to the collected and removed from the protected area. This may be especially useful in areas with heavy rainfall or that are prone to flooding where there is a risk of over-run water from the channel and / or rainwater gathering 10 in the area protected area. It is also noted that these SuD systems may be connected to a storage system or drainage system like the channel to allow excess water within the systems to be removed when necessary. As noted, it is preferable for the channel and storage system to be functional without any powered mechanisms, wherein the water flows through the system under the force of gravity 15 alone. This would allow the system to function without producing any pollutants, and would not increase the carbon footprint of the protected site thereby making the system more environmentally friendly. However, depending on the location of the protected site, powered features such as pumps may be necessary. For example, in locations that have a relatively flat landscape where it would be difficult to make channels and trenches with a sufficient 20 gradient to carry the water through the system. Additionally, in areas that suffer from heavy rainfall or regular flooding, the system may require one or more pumps to handle the rapid increase in water level when such events occur to reduce the risk of flooding in the protected area. It is noted that the size and number of pumps needed in the system would depend on the protected area as described above. However, it is preferable that the system keeps the 25 number of pumps to a minimum to reduce the system’s power consumption. Further, the system would preferably use pumps with electrical motors so that the system does not require its own fuel supply and also make the pump easier to scale to the requirements of the protected site. In some cases, the system may include its own green power supply to power the various 30 pumps and valves within the system. For example, the user may implement solar panels or a wind turbine either near, or within the protected site, to power the mechanisms within the system. More preferably the system may include a plurality of turbines within the channel, a storage system, or both. Wherein these turbines are driven by the water moving through the system and in turn drive one or more generators to produce power. This power may be used 35 to power the mechanisms of the system and / or to produce power for the protected site. It is 24 05 24 noted that the power generated by these turbines may be stored within suitable batteries for later use, especially as the system’s power consumption would be dependent on the water levels within the system. Further, the storage system may also include turbines that are configured to generate power 5 as water enters the system from the channel. Further, some storage features such as ponds lakes, or the retention and / or infiltration system of a SuD system may include a dam-like structure that allows the water stored in these systems to be controllably released through a turbine thereby allowing the system to generate power only when needed, effectively storing power without the need for batteries. This is preferable as the large batteries needed to store 10 the energy from the turbines are expensive and are prone to power leakage over time resulting in a limit to how long each battery can store power. The claimed system would also comprise a suitable drainage system, this is a system configured to remove all excess water from the system away from the protected area. In many cases, these systems would already exist within the protected area being used for 15 drainage in the protected area such as an in-place infrastructure drainage system or even a sewer system, water treatment plant, or an existing river. In other cases, namely, when all of the structures within the protected area are new, the user may build a new drainage system to form part of the claimed system. As noted, such systems would be used to remove excess water collected by the system once the available storage systems are full. To achieve this 20 the drainage system may be coupled to one or more points within the system with pipes that would allow water to freely flow into the drainage system. In some systems, the drainage system would be coupled downstream from the storage system such that the overflow from the storage system enters the drainage system. In some cases, the storage system is configured to be sealed once the water within the storage 25 system reaches a predetermined threshold, in such cases it is only when the storage system is sealed would the water collected by the system be able to flow downstream into the drainage system. In other cases, the channel and SuD systems may also be coupled directly to the drainage system, wherein the system would be configured to direct water from each of these systems directly into the drainage system. More specifically these systems may be 30 configured to direct water to flow into the drainage system when the water in a component of the system reaches a predetermined threshold. For example, the channel or the irrigation system of the SuD may have a pipe coupled to the side of the feature, in a position proximate to the top of the feature walls, so that as the water collected by the feature reaches above a certain threshold it will enter this pipe and flow into the drainage system. 24 05 24 Such drainage systems may comprise existing features within the protected area such as a nearby river or a sewage system used by the structures in the protected area, wherein these features receive the excess water and remove it from the protected area. In some cases when there is sufficient land available the drainage system may comprise a wetland, wherein 5 the excess water can be released into the wetland to direct it away from the protected area. In other cases, the drainage system may comprise new systems developed as part of a project within the protected area, such as a new sewage system, water purification system, or a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) that uses features such as tree pits, rain gardens, and soakaways to irrigate the excess water into the surrounding area. 10 In some cases, the downstream system and / or SuDS may include agricultural areas. More specifically, the system may be configured to feed the water from the channel or storage system into one or more fields or structures such as greenhouses to provide irrigation, via a suitable irrigation system, thereby allowing the user to use the collected water to water the plants in the agricultural areas. It should be noted that not all of the collected water may be 15 used in this way, as during a potential flood the volume of water collected may be enough to waterlog the agricultural area and potentially damage the plants within. Therefore, the system would be configured to channel a portion of the collected water into the agricultural area, for example using suitable valves in the portion connecting the storage system to the channel, or through a system that is configured to pump the water from the storage system 20 to the irrigation system. It is noted, that the flood mitigation system may comprise a means to measure the climate or water levels at the agricultural area to determine the amount of water needed in the irrigation system, with a further means to determine the amount of water that has been redirected to the irrigation system such that the system may automatically control the flow of water to the agricultural area by ensuring that the water level within the 25 agricultural area is at a desired threshold at any given time, using user input and data from the agricultural area to change the threshold when necessary. It is noted that such a system may also use a series of valves to control the rate of the water flowing through these agricultural areas. More specifically, the system can control the rate that the water flows through the irrigation system such that the water can be slowed thereby reducing the amount 30 of soil erosion in the area. In addition to the systems described above, the flood mitigation system may also comprise a control system configured to monitor and actuate different portions of the system. In the basic system which does not comprise any pumps or valves, the control systems would simply comprise a plurality of sensors configured to monitor the water level within the system 35 such that the control system may issue a warning when the water in the system reaches capacity or passes a predetermined threshold. As noted above, the system may simply alert 24 05 24 the user to when these thresholds are met, or the system may be configured to open or close the pipes leading to one or more of the storage systems or the drainage system depending on the water levels at different points in the system. For example, when the water level within a storage system reaches the predetermined threshold, that storage system is 5 sealed. Or, when the water level reaches a predetermined threshold within the channel, or within the storage systems the system may be configured to open a pipe coupled to the drainage system to remove any excess water collected by the system. In some cases, these sensors may also be configured to determine the rate at which the water level inside the system is changing. Such that the control system can use the data to 10 predict when the water inside the system will reach maximum capacity in the storage system or a predetermined threshold within the channel or storage system. This would allow the control system to predict when the system is at risk of overflowing and may alert a user or those within the protected area of potential flooding. Further, this system can alert the user when the storage system would likely need to be emptied so that the user can better 15 schedule the replacement of the storage tanks or the maintenance work needed to empty other storage systems. Lastly, these predictions would allow the system more time to close storage systems and / or open the drainage system to reduce the risk of any overflow within the system. The control system may also comprise cameras configured to monitor the channels and 20 storage system. Such cameras may be used to monitor any wear, especially any wear or breaks within the channel wall, which may compromise the system and allow stored water to flow into the protected area. Further, these cameras may be used to validate the readings from the sensors described above as the footage of the cameras could be used to indicate the current water level. Further, such cameras may be positioned within the protected area 25 to monitor for any surface water or overflow water within the area being protected. In such cases, the control system may be configured to open SuD systems within the area or open additional pipes in the system which are coupled to the drainage system to remove the detected water. In systems that comprise mechanical components such as pumps, valves, and / or turbines, 30 the control system would also be configured to monitor and control these components. For example, based on the readings of the water levels within the channel the control system may activate or deactivate the pumps within the channel, or pipes coupled to the channel, activating the pumps when the water exceeds a predetermined threshold to accelerate the rate at which the water flow out the channel, to stop the water from overflowing. Then the 35 controller would be configured to deactivate the pumps when the water level is below a 24 05 24 predetermined threshold, which may differ from the first threshold, in order to conserve power and reduce the wear on the pumps as the pumps will be deactivated when they are not needed. In systems with multiple storage systems, the control system would be configured to control 5 the flow to each of the storage systems. More specifically, the control system would be configured to actuate one or more valves to control which of the storage systems receives water from the channel. Further, in systems where storage tanks are used the control system is configured to seal one or more of the tanks thereby allowing a tank to be emptied or replaced once the water inside the tank reaches a predetermined threshold. Similarly, the 10 control system could control the valve in the pipes that couple the system to the drainage system, thereby allowing excess water to be removed from the system by opening the drainage pipes when the water level reaches predetermined thresholds. In systems that comprise a power system, whether it is external to the channel and storage system, such as solar panels, or an internal power system such as the turbines described 15 above, the controller may be configured to activate or deactivate these systems based on the received data sensors. More specifically, the system may use the readings of the water level and the rate of the changes in the water level within the system to determine if the pumps and other mechanisms are needed, and in response, the control system would draw power from the power system to power these components. Further, the control system may 20 be configured to monitor the amount of power stored in the system as well as the power demands of the system. Wherein the control system would be configured to actuate the system to activate the turbines within the system, and / or direct the water stored within the system through turbines mounted to the system, to produce additional power when the system has a higher power demand or to recharge the batteries used to store power. 25 In some cases, the control system may further comprise a modeling system configured to predict changes within the system and respond accordingly, allowing the system to make preemptive changes reducing the risk of the system overflowing. More specifically, the control system may comprise modeling software that is capable of predicting the state of the system based on received information. In most cases this received information may 30 comprise data from the various sensors coupled to the system, such as the sensors monitoring the water level within the channel, the water level within the storage systems, and where necessary the sensors monitoring the different power generating systems within the channels, namely sensors for measuring the amount of power stored and sensors monitoring the amount of power being generated. 24 05 24 In some cases, the controller may receive additional information from external systems. In particular, the controller may receive information regarding external factors that may affect the running of the system, such as weather reports, landslide warnings, schedules for maintenance and repairs to the system, and / or information regarding the amount of 5 vegetation in the SuDS as this would affect the amount of water the SuDS can dissipate. By including this information in the models, the system can correlate these external factors to the necessary changes within the system allowing the controller to more accurately predict when the system would need changes to control the water level within the channel. In other cases, the system may receive satellite images of the protected area and its 10 surroundings. From such images, the controller can monitor water movements around the protected area, such as water flow rates and changes in water level in the area which may provide an early indicator of a potential flood allowing the system to be deployed in preparation for such flood. Additionally, the system may be able to use such images and information to predict the relative severity of the predicted flood, using the images to 15 determine a prediction for the volume and / or flow rate of the incoming flood water that may be used by the controller to adjust the system and ensure the channel and / or storage system will not overflow. With this information, the claimed system may use modeling software to create a model of the flood-mitigating system, which provides values for the water levels in the different 20 portions of the system, as well as the amount of power the system is using, generating, and / or storing. Using the output of this model the user can make predictions regarding how the water levels throughout the system will change and in response can adjust the valves within the system to regulate the flow of the water and re-direct the water where necessary. In cases, where the system receives external information, the system can use external 25 factors to predict when the system may require the above-mentioned changes allowing the system to react pre-emptively thereby reducing the risk of the water in the system overflowing. In further cases, the system may include a machine learning element that is configured to monitor and improve the predictions of the system. In particular, this system can be trained 30 to provide improved predictions and in turn improve the controller systems model. This may be achieved by analyzing the predictions produced by the model by comparing the system’s predictions to the actual measurements taken by the sensors thereby recording which predictions were accurate, or at least within a predetermined threshold of the actual values, and adjusting the variable relationships within the model to correct the predictions which 35 were wrong or fell outside the predetermined threshold. 24 05 24 Using this modeling and machine learning system the controller is able to adjust the system more effectively to address changes in the environment around the protected area. Additionally, these models can help to detect and predict any fault within the system. This will allow the controller to schedule maintenance and repairs in the system, and be able to 5 adjust the system to accommodate the downtime for such repairs, and if possible, isolate the parts of the system being repaired. Using such a system would provide the user with an environmentally friendly system configured to reduce the risk of flooding within a target area. Wherein the system may work passively without the need for mechanical components ensuring the system is ready for use 10 at all times. Further, this system may be used as a source of power for the protected area through the use of turbines placed within the system. Thereby providing an improved system for protecting areas that are prone to flooding. The water collected by the system may then be used in various ways inside or outside the protected area. As described above the system may be coupled to SuDS or an irrigation 15 system that may use the collected water to water plants in and around the protected area. For example, when the protected area includes field with crops, the system will protect the crops from being damaged by flooding, and may then use a portion of the collected water to water the same crops via a suitable irrigation system. It is also noted that when the water is used for irrigation the control system can control the rate that which the water flows through 20 the agricultural areas, and may be used to slow the water thereby reducing the amount of soil erosion in the area. The stored water may also be used in fire prevention, by supplying the stored water to firefighters, or channeled into fire prevention systems such as fire hydrants or sprinkler systems, thereby providing more water to prevent and control fires within the protected area. The water may also be pumped back into the channel to help form 25 a fire preventing trench to reduce the risk of an external fire spreading into the protected area, note that an empty channel can also help prevent fires from spreading as it creates a fissure that the fire cannot cross and may collect embers and flaming debris before it reaches the protected area. In some cases, the water collected by the system may be used in the buildings within the protected area, via their plumbing systems, note that the stored 30 water may need to be taken off-site to be purified before being used in this manner, especially if the buildings wish to use the collected water as drinking water. It is also noted that the tanks used to store the collected water may be taken off-site to be used in the manners described above, in places other than the protected area. Additionally, the water from the storage tanks may be emptied into reservoirs to increase the amount of 35 water stored to be used in power generation. This can be particularly useful if the area 24 05 24 containing the reservoir is experiencing a period of drought that may reduce the amount of water that is currently stored there. Further, the system may help to reduce the carbon footprint of the protected area, firstly by providing water that may be used in power-generating systems such as hydroelectric dams. 5 Further the system may be configured to generate power using the movement of the water passing through the channel and any downstream component of the system. In both cases, the generated power can be used by the protected area thereby reducing the energy demands of structures within the area. Additionally, the system may utilize plants as part of the system, either using trees as a protective wall around the channel and / or the plants used 10 in various sections of the SuD systems. These plants help to remove pollutants from the air around the protected area, especially CO2, thereby further reducing the carbon footprint of the protected area. Detailed Description 15 The present invention is depicted in the following drawings: Figure 1 - depicts an example of a protected area utilizing the claimed flood mitigation system. Figure 2 - depicts an example of the claimed flood mitigation system. Figures 3 & 4- depict examples of a sustainable drainage (SuD) system that may be used 20 as part of the claimed flood mitigation system. The figures comprise the following features, please note that like features are indicated by like reference numerals: 10 - Protected site 25   12 - Raised topography (represented by mountains) 14 - Water run-off / Rainwater 20 - Horseshoe channel 22 - Geosynthetic cementitious composite mats 24 - Natural barrier (represented by trees) 30   30 - Pond 24 05 24 32 - Underground storage tank 40 - Aboveground storage tank 50 - SuD system 52 - Filtered trench 5   54 - Retention basin 56 - Soakaway 60 - Rain garden 70 - Tree pit 10 The present invention provides a flood mitigation system that can be implemented within a desired area to collect and redirect water away from the protected area, after which the water may be stored for use or dispersed into the surrounding area. The claimed system provides an improvement over other systems as the features used can be easily scaled to suit the requirements of the protected area. Further, the claimed system provides an 15 environmentally friendly means of flood mitigation as the system uses the topography of the area and the shape of the system’s features to remove or reduce the need for powered mechanisms such as pumps, thereby reducing the system’s power consumption. In some cases, the system may utilize the stored water to produce the power needed for such mechanisms thereby making the system self-sufficient. 20 This system may be implemented in areas that are prone to flooding, especially in remote areas such as sites within the valleys of mountains. As such sites are prone to flooding from the heavy rainfall over the mountains, and also lack much industry due to their remote location making it difficult to provide power and resources to such areas. The claimed system would provide ideal protection to such areas as the system works passively and 25 therefore is always ready for a potential flood, this is especially useful as heavy rainfall can be hard to predict. Further, due to the claim system requiring little power, it is able to work at its full potential even in such remote areas. Figure 1 depicts an example of a site using the claimed flood mitigation system. In this depicted example the protected area 10 comprises an industrial site in the valley of a 30 mountain. It is noted that the protected site may include larger or smaller areas, be it a single building such as a home, warehouse, or factory, up to an entire city. The claimed system can be scaled to meet the size requirements of the site to be protected. It is noted that in the 24 05 24 depicted example the protected area 10 is susceptible to flooding due to the raised topography surrounding the area, namely the mounts 12, as the rain falling on these mountains would follow the slope of the topography as run-off into the protected area 10 resulting in the run-off water 14 gathering in the area as surface water and would eventually 5 lead to flooding. Therefore, such an area would require a means of flood mitigation. It is also noted that other areas that are prone to flooding may also utilize the same system to stop potential flooding, such as building near bodies of water such as lakes and rivers or buildings close to the foot or valleys of mountains. Figure 2 depicts a simplified drawing of the flood mitigation system depicted in Figure 1. The 10 flood mitigation system comprises two main portions a collecting portion configured to gather and redirect the run-off water 14 away from the protected area 10, and a storage portion configured to store the gathered water in an area that is remote from the protected area 10. After which the stored water may be used by the protected area, dissipated into the surrounding area, or removed to be used elsewhere. As noted, it is preferable that these 15 systems are configured to work passively, meaning that the system requires little to no power to operate allowing the system to be used at any time as it would always be ready for use and can be used in remote areas as it would not need a power source or may use the water collected to provide sufficient power to operate the system. In the depicted example the collecting portion of the system comprises a horseshoe-shaped 20 channel 20, said channel is positioned to cover at least a portion of the perimeter of the protected area. For example, in the depicted example the channel 20 covers the side of the protected area facing the mountains 12, this allows the depicted access road to reach the opposite side of the site. It should be noted that this channel 20 can be scaled to the size of the protected area 10 and may cover the entire perimeter, this may be the case in areas 25 where the potential flooding could arise from any direction. It is noted that the channel could have different shapes depending on the size and shape of the protected area. However, it is noted that the channel would preferably have an arcuate shape, as the curved sides of the channel would increase the overall volume of the channel compared to a linear channel over the same length. The larger volume allows the channel to hold more water helping to reduce 30 the risk of the channel overflowing, and allows more water to be carried away from the protected area. It is also noted that the channel 20 would preferably be lined with a waterproof material. This material would prevent the water in the channel from being irrigated into the surrounding soil, this is beneficial as the large amount of water within the channel could cause erosion in the 35 surrounding area and therefore may cause damage to the protected area if the water is not 24 05 24 contained within the channel. It is also noted that the walls of the channel would need to be made of a sufficiently strong material, to ensure that the channel could withstand the force exerted by the water as it enters the channel, and would also need to have a long operational lifespan to help reduce the amount of maintenance required on the channel 20 5 and to reduce the time where the system would need to be shut off to perform such maintenance. As discussed earlier the preferred material for the walls of the channel would be concrete, as the material can be shaped to match the desired size and shape for the channel 20 making it easily scalable, while also providing a strong waterproof material that would require little 10 maintenance. However, the use of reinforced concrete would be preferable than concrete alone, as the added reinforcement would strengthen the walls of the channel 20 and therefore would further reduce the maintenance required for the system, and would effectively increase the system’s operational life span. However, the large metal beams within the reinforced concrete would be prone to wear from 15 the gathered water, and would also increase the size of the excavation area needed to make the channel 20, thereby causing more damage to the surrounding area. For this reason, alternative forms of concrete such as micro-reinforced concrete may be preferable as the smaller reinforcing structures would reduce the width of the channel walls and in turn the size of the excavation needed to produce the channel 20. 20 The more preferable alternative to the concrete described above would be the use of geosynthetic cementitious composite mats 22, these mats comprise a net or mesh made from a geosynthetic material which is then filled with cement to provide a mat that is flexible and lightweight, while also being sufficiently tough to support the weight of the water within the channel 20. Also, because the mats 22 are relatively thin a channel which is lined with 25 such mats would need less excavation compared to the other materials described above. Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the channel 20 would be lined with mats 22 as depicted in Figure 2. It is also noted that such a channel would still allow some irrigation of the water within the channel as a small portion of the stored water could escape through the gaps between the mats 22, this would allow water in the channel to be dispensed safely, 30 without damaging the surrounding area allow the system to manage more water, it is also noted that the mats would make the maintenance of the channel easier as individual mats 22 could be removed and replaced when necessary. It is noted that the depicted version of the channel 20 also includes a natural barrier 24 along the outer edge of the channel, note that in this case the outer edge is defined as the edge 35 facing away from the protected area 10. The barrier 24 helps to slow and direct the water as 24 05 24 it approaches the channel 20. This effect helps to reduce the risk of the water flowing over the channel 20, for water with sufficient momentum may flow up the far side of the channel and into the protected area 10. The barrier also helps to protect the walls of the channel as the water passing through the barrier would not only be moving more slowly but would also 5 be diverted around the barrier meaning the water would be spread over a wider area of the channel, both of these effects would reduce the amount of force the water would exert onto the walls of the channel thereby reducing the overall wear to the channel 20. This helps reduce the amount of maintenance needed to maintain the system and would prolong the operational lifespan of the channel 20. It is noted that in the depicted example, the natural 10 barrier is formed by a series of evenly spaced trees, though it is noted that the barrier may also be formed from hedge rows or bushes, though the effect would be the same it is noted that the trees would form a stronger barrier and therefore would have less risk of being damaged during a potential flood. It is also noted that the natural barriers 24 are made from plants as described above rather 15 than a constructed barrier such as a wall or fence. This is because the plants would be able to absorb any surface water that remained after a potential flood event and also means that the barrier would require little maintenance as the plants would not need to be replaced often when compared with a wall or fence that would become worn down over time. Further, the plants of the natural barrier 24 would also be considered more aesthetically appealing then 20 the constructed walls, especially as these types of systems are likely to be utilized in more rural areas. Once the channel 20 is constructed one or both ends of the channel may be coupled to a storage system, which is configured to collect and store the water that is gathered by the channel 20. Two examples of a storage system have been depicted within the shown 25 example, in the example, the first end of the channel 20 is coupled to a lake 30, via a pipe or trench that would allow the water from the channel 20 to flow into the lake 30. It is noted that other bodies of water may be used in place of the lake 30, such as a river or a plurality of ponds. These water features provide a large area in which the excess water from the channel 20 can be safely stored without risk to the protected area. However, during a 30 potential flooding event, the water within these features may raise above the banks of the water feature resulting in the water overflowing, this is why it is preferable to have a plurality of water storage systems. It is noted that such water features may be man-made near or within the protected area 10. If the feature is man-made then the base of the water feature may be lined with mats 22 like 35 the channel 20, to help prevent the stored water from eroding and damaging the surrounding 24 05 24 area. Also, these water features may include vegetation such as reeds or other plants to help filter and purify the stored water, especially as run-off water may gather particulates or debris that would pollute the water as it approached the channel. The other end of the channel 20 is coupled to a water tank 40. As with the lake 30 this tank 5 receives water from the channel 20 through pipes or other suitable means allowing the water to be stored for later use. Note that the tank 40 depicted in Figure 1 is open at the top allowing rain water to also be gathered within the tank 40. This stored water may be filtered and used by the buildings within the stored area, or be removed from the area once the tank reaches a predetermined threshold. In systems where the channel 20 is also connected to a 10 water feature like the lake 20, the stored water may be released back into the channel 20 to refill the water feature during times of draught. Figure 2 also depicts the use of underground tanks 32 which can also be used to store water from the channel like the tank 40 described above. The figure also shows that the underground tanks 32 are coupled to the lake 30. This would allow excess water from the 15 lake 30 to be released into the tanks 32 prevent the lake from overflowing. These tanks 32 may similarly be coupled directly to the channel 20 or to other tanks 20,32 to again act as additional storage to remove excess water, it is noted that the water from the other feature may pass into the tanks 32 passively, or may be released via valves or pumped into the tanks 32 only when necessary. Further, regardless of whether the tank 32,40 is above or 20 below ground level, it may be necessary to include valves that are configured to isolate the tanks 32,40 from the rest of the system. These valves can be used to prevent the tanks overflowing and to allow the tanks to be emptied or replaced when filled. It would also allow the content of the tank to be released back into the other parts of the system as described above. 25 In addition to the storage systems described above, the storage system attached to the channel 20 may be in the form of a sustainable drainage (SuD) system 50. These are systems that comprise a plurality of connected systems that are configured to mimic natural drainage regimes within an urban environment. A SuD system 50 would comprise a source control system for collecting the water to be processed by the system, in the case of the 30 claimed system this would be the channel as described above, a treatment system configured to filter and purify the collected water, a retention system configured to store excess water within the system and lastly an infiltration system configured to discharge the water within the system into the surrounding ground where it can be absorbed without the risk of flooding. Such a system would allow the runoff water entering the system to be stored 35 and slowly discharged into the surrounding area over time. This would allow the water to be 24 05 24 slowly irrigated thereby allowing the system to drain itself over time while also preventing erosion and damage to the surrounding area. Figure 3 depicts an example of such a SuD system 50. It is noted that in any of these systems, the source control feature would be the channel 20 as described above. In this depicted example the treatment system is in the form of a filtered trench 52 which comprises a dug out trenched filled with plants designed to filter the water as it travels between systems, the plants used may include grass, reeds or other plants found in lakes, ponds and rivers. These plants allow particulates and debris to be removed from the water before it enters the downstream systems. In some cases, the treatment system may be in the form of a vegetated swale which comprises linear grass-covered depressions that lead surface water overland from the drained surface proximate the channel 20 to the downstream systems. At the end of the trench 52 or swale, there would be one or more retention systems configured to store the filtered water, in the depicted example, the retention system comprises a retention basin 54, which similar to the man-made lake 30, is a large depression or hole configured to store a relatively large volume of water, and would prevent this water from irrigating into the surrounding soil. It is noted that the retention system may comprise other water features such as ponds or lakes as described above. Lastly the depicted irrigation system comprises a soakaway 56. These soakaways 56 comprise a hole in the ground that collects water over time and allows it to dissipate either through the walls of the hole or through evaporation, such holes could be implemented anywhere in the protected site, especially in areas where surface water tends to form during heavy rainfall to help gather and dissipate such water. Some soakaways 56 filled with old bricks, clinker, or gravel, however, these materials severely reduce the soakaway’s storage capacity, more modern soakaways are, usually, empty chambers that allow the collected water to dissipate into the surrounding soil. In some cases, the irrigation system may also comprise infiltration trenches positioned along the edges of the retention system, and may also be positioned along the edges of the channel 20 and any other water features within the protected area 10, as a means of dispensing any overflowing water from these features. Wherein the infiltration trenches comprise a shallow, excavated trench that has been lined with a geotextile and backfilled with stone to create an underground reservoir. These SuD systems 50 may be the most preferable type of storage system as it allows water to be stored while also allowing the water to be gradually irrigated into the surroundings, which helps to reduce the risk of the system overflowing. Additionally, these systems would 24 05 24 remove the need to manually empty or replace the storage system, while still allowing a relatively large portion of the collected water to be filtered and used within the protected area 10. As previously mentioned, the system may also comprise additional SuD systems within the 5 protected area 10 that are configured to collect any overflow from the channel, as well as any rainfall that falls directly into the protected area 10 and therefore would not be directed towards the channel 20. These internal SuD systems, may comprise fewer features compared to the above-mentioned SuD system 50 as there is less need to transport the water collected. To this end, these internal SuD systems may only comprise a retention 10 feature for collecting and holding the collected water, and an irrigation feature for disposing of the collected water. In some cases, both of these features may be incorporated into a single feature. Figure 4 depicts examples of some of these internal SuD systems, specifically the figure provides an example of a rain garden 60 and a tree pit 70. These features use a pit similar to the soakaway 56 described above, wherein the pit contains soil or gravel to 15 retain water allowing the water in the pit to be irrigated into the surroundings. However, these systems further comprise vegetation, such as small plants or a tree, that is planted within the soakaway pit. Wherein this vegetation is used to filter and absorb the collected water, more specifically the roots of the vegetation would filter the water as it travels through the pit, additionally, the vegetation roots absorb any water that is retained within the pit allowing 20 more water to be dissipated compared to the empty soakaway 56. However, it is noted that the empty soakaway 56 would be able to hold more water, therefore these vegetated soakaways are only preferable within the protected area where the volume of water entering the soakaway pit would be reduced compared to the amount of water entering the rest of the system. 25 In addition to the features depicted it would be understood that the claimed system would further comprise a drainage system configured to remove any excess water from the system. These drainage systems may comprise pre-existing drainage systems within the protected areas such as a sewage system or a river in the area. In some cases, the drainage system may comprise a wetland outside the protected area, if a suitable plot of land is available 30 wherein the excess water is directed towards this land and left to dissipate over time. It is noted that the drainage system can be coupled to one or more of the system features described above, such as the channel 20, storage system(s) and / or SuD system 50, wherein pipes from the features passively carry any excess water directly to the drainage system. In some cases, the drainage system would be positioned downstream from the storage 35 system in such a manner that the collected water first flows to the storage system, and then 24 05 24 any overflow from the storage system continues to flow downstream into the drainage system. Note that the storage system is configured to be sealed once the water within the storage system reaches a certain threshold, in such cases the sealing of the storage system causes the gathered water to be redirected toward the drainage system. Similarly, in some 5 cases, the drainage system can be sealed until the water within the system reaches a predetermined threshold, such that only when the water level reaches the threshold would the pipe to the drainage system open. Though not depicted it would be appreciated that the claimed system may also comprise a control system configured to monitor the water level within the different parts of the system. 10 Wherein the control system is configured to alert a user when water levels reach a predetermined threshold or use the readings from such sensors to predict when the system may overflow altering the user to a potential flood in the protected area. To achieve this the control system would comprise a series of sensors configured to measure the water level at different points in the system. Wherein the readings from these sensors would be received 15 by a processor configured to store the pre-determined thresholds and to generate the necessary alerts in response to the received data. In systems that use valves and pumps to control the flow of water throughout the system, the control system would be configured to operate these pumps and valves. It is noted that the control system would be configured to use the sensor data to determine when these features 20 need to be used. For example, when the water levels within a storage system exceed a predetermined threshold the control system may use valves to isolate that storage system to prevent more water from entering. Also, in these conditions, the controller may use the pumps to drain water from the storage system back into the channel or to another storage system to prevent the storage from overflowing. In another example, the control system may 25 determine when the channel is likely to overflow, based on the rate of change in water level, in such cases the control system would use the pumps to drain the water out of the channel at a faster rate compared to normal system operations. In some cases, the system may further comprise turbines within the different parts of the system, wherein each turbine is coupled to a generator and is configured to produce power 30 when the turbine drives the generator. This power may be used to power the pumps and valves of the system or may be used to power devices within the protected area. In some cases, the power may be stored in batteries for later use or use in areas remote from the protected area. In these systems the control system may be configured to activate the turbine or may be configured to controllably release water from the storage system to turn 35 such turbines, thereby allowing the storage system to be used as a power supply. This may be preferable as it would allow the system to be self-efficient, with the system using the power generated from the turbines to operate the different mechanisms within the system. This system may also make the protected area 10 more environmentally friendly as the water in the system could be used as a renewable energy source for the area. 5 By using the flood mitigation system described above, a user would be able to provide an environmentally friendly means of preventing flooding in a targeted area. The system being capable of operating without power reducing the environmental impact of the system, and ensuring that the system is operational at all times. And in some cases, the system may be used as a source of water and / or green energy for the area being protected thereby making 10 the protected area more self-efficient and environmentally friendly. 24 05 24

Claims

1. A flood mitigation system, comprising:An arcuate channel positioned along at least a portion of the perimeter of an area to be protected, configured to collect rainwater and runoff water entering the protected area;A water storage system coupled to at least one end of the channel, configured to receive the collected water from the channel for storage, and allow the stored water to be removed from the protected area;A drainage system coupled to at least one of the storage system and the channel, and is configured to drain water from the flood mitigation system;Wherein the coupling between the channel and the storage system comprises pipes or trenches that allow water to flow between the channel and the storage system; andWherein the storage system is configured to become sealed once the water within the storage system reaches a predetermined thresholdAnd further comprises a natural barrier comprising trees or hedges, positioned along the edges of the channel.

2. The flood mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises walls lined with a layer of geosynthetic cementitious composite mats and / or geosynthetic organic composite mats.

3. The flood mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the channel walls are formed from one of reinforced concrete, or micro-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete.

4. The flood mitigation system of any preceding claim wherein the arcuate channel comprises a horseshoe shape.

5. The flood mitigation system of any proceeding claim wherein the channel comprises a cross-sectional profile wherein the bottom of the channel is narrower than the top of the channel.

6. The flood mitigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the storage system comprises at least one of: a storage tank, a plurality of storage tanks, a pond, a lake, and / or a sustainable drainage system (SuDS).

7. The flood mitigation system of claim 6 wherein the storage system comprises at least two systems that are connected through pipes allowing water to simultaneously flow to each of the storage systems.

8. The flood mitigation system of claims 6 and 7 wherein the storage system comprises one or more valves configured to prevent the water from entering the storage system, or a component of the the storage system.

9. The flood mitigation system of claims 6 to 8, wherein the coupling between the channel and the storage system is shaped such that the water flows cyclonically24 05 24through the connecting portion to separate the water from pollutants using centripetal force.

10. The flood mitigation system of claims 6 to 9, wherein the storage system comprises a SuD system which comprises:a source control system for collecting the water to be processed by the system;a treatment system configured to filter and purify the collected water;a retention system configured to store excess water within the system; andan infiltration system configured to discharge the water within the system into the surrounding area.

11. The flood mitigation system of claim 10, wherein:the treatment system comprises a swale or filtered trench;the retention system comprises water features comprising at least one of ponds, lakes, retention basins or wetlands;the infiltration system comprises soakaways or infiltration trenches.

12. The flood mitigation system of any preceding claim wherein the drainage system comprises at least one of: a sewer system, a water treatment facility, a river or an area of wetland outside of the protected area.

13. The flood mitigation system of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the channel or storage systems comprises pumps, configured to control the rate of the water flowing through the system.

14. The flood mitigation system of any preceding claim wherein at least one of the channels or the storage system comprises one or more turbines that are configured to use the flowing water within the system to generate power.

15. The flood mitigation system of any preceding claim, further comprises a control system comprising a plurality of sensors configured to monitor the water level inside each part of the system and is configured to alert the user when the water level exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16. The flood mitigation system of claim 15, wherein the control system is further configured to monitor the rate of change in the detected water level to predict when the water level within parts of the system reaches a predetermined threshold.

17. The flood mitigation system of claims 15 and 16, wherein the control system is configured to operate any pumps, valves or turbines within the system.

18. The flood mitigation system of claim 17, wherein the control system is configured to operate the components of the system in response to the water level in the system raising above a first predetermined threshold, or falling below a second predetermined threshold.

19. The flood mitigation system of claim 18, wherein the first and second thresholds are different.

20. The flood mitigation system of claims 15 to 19, wherein the control system further comprises a machine learning system that is configured to use data from the system and external data to generate a model to predict changes in the water level in the mitigation system and predict faults within the system, and is further configured to use current data to correct the predictions and improve the generated model.24 05 24

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