It is hard to imagine that Bradford Beck would have anything in common with the sweeping expanses of the River Rhine in mainland Europe.

But while the two are very different, teams involved in the forever-hot topic of water management for those rivers and their catchments, can learn a lot from each other.

Bradford is privileged to number among the eight partner cities involved in a EU-funded programme looking at the causes of flooding and how best to tackle it, both in practical terms and through its social impact.

The five-year FloodResilienCity (FRC) project was set up to counter the need for more homes and buildings in urban areas with the need for better flood risk management in north-west European cities.

Partners in the project learn from each other’s flood management and urban planning approaches, not only at the level of technological experts, but in national and local political decision-making and involvement of the public.

On Monday, May 13, a water-themed event involving children from local schools takes place at City Park to highlight an FRC conference in Bradford, marking the end of the project.

Flooding in recent years in the UK and European cities has shown that most cities are insufficiently engaged in, aware of, or prepared for the flood risks they face.

Throughout the project, teams from across Europe have visited Bradford, to discuss the ongoing work and how it helps to plan for the future.

A team from the Netherlands recently travelled to the city. Liesbeth van Riet Paap, Natalie Oonk-Abrahams, Jean-Marie Stam and Annelise van Ginkel explained how the programme – and Bradford’s significant contribution – is helping to shape their work.

“It has been interesting because all the cities have different institutional backgrounds and different geographical settings,” says Jean-Marie, international project manager for FRC. “We have found it very interesting in Bradford to see how much effort Bradford Council is putting in to study how water flows around the city.”

About 28,000 residents in the Bradford district are at risk of flooding. Work by the Council – which focuses on two areas, Bradford Beck and watercourses in Ilkley – includes identifying and mapping areas at risk and developing a response. It also examines ways of collecting and recording data, how information is communicated and shared and how it is passed to the public.

“Looking at the issues in Bradford, you will find similar issues across Europe,” says Tony Poole, Bradford Council principal drainage engineer. “The project helps to generate new ideas on how to manage risk.”

Liesbeth is a director on the Netherlands’ Room For The River project, a Government-designed national plan intended to address flood protection, landscaping and environmental improvements.

“Through the exchange of knowledge we are inspired to think outside the box,” she says.

Adds Tony: “The way water is managed is changing. Some countries used to believe it was about building something, such as walls or dykes. We now know that that the solution lies in smaller interventions. In Bradford we have a steep catchment, so some of the issues surround run-off,” explains Tony.

People’s perception of flooding is also addressed. Says Tony. “In future we have to learn how to live with water close to us. We have done this with roads and cars, now we must do it with water. We can’t simply build more drainage infrastructure.”

“A decade ago talk about flooding involved only drainage engineers. Now it involves many other specialists, agencies, insurance companies, even social services. And members of the public expect visible, large-scale solutions, which are not always the answer.”

Other ways of addressing flood risk could include trapping water higher up the catchment or installing a sustainable urban drainage system.

The Netherlands is looking at multi-functional dykes. In the Belgian city of Leuven the watercourse is similar to Bradford Beck but the issues are different, with water eroding historic buildings.

Says Lisbeth: “In the Netherlands we were used to building dykes higher and higher – but then you don't see the rivers. With Room For The River we want to give more space to the river and not confine it. The French have taught us to also embrace the rivers and make promenades on sloping banks – aesthetics are import.”

Adds Natalie: “We need to raise awareness. We must all take responsibility for this enormous challenge.”

Says Liesbeth: “We are doing this for the future – that is why we are starting the City Park event with children, it is symbolic.”

The FRC opening event takes place at City Park on Monday, May 13, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.