Other Hazards Important in Cinti Flooding Erosion Environmental Contamination.
Transcript of Other Hazards Important in Cinti Flooding Erosion Environmental Contamination.
Other Hazards Important in Cinti
•Flooding
•Erosion
•Environmental Contamination
Flood Hazards
When a homesite is too good to be true
A Home by the River. Enjoy quiet country living in California, Ohio, with the river at your doorstep. Watch the river traffic go by from your back deck. This one-level frame house provides 2,000 square feet of comfortable living space. Asking $85,000. Call Patrick at Floodplain Properties for a showing.
Cincinnati flooded 1997
Falmouth KY 1997
Newport Levee 1997
Covington 1997
Covington 1937
Spring Grove Ave 1937
Flood Frequency – the Science
T = (N + 1) / M
where T is the recurrence interval in years, N is the number of years of record, and M is the rank of the event of interest.
T is also 1/P, where P is the probability, in percent, that an event of a particular size will occur in the next year.
Flood Frequency – FEMA Application
CAGIS sample flood map (http://hamilton-co.org/pubworks/Narative_GIS.htm)
Flood Resources
Sandra Ashba, Flood Plain ManagerUnincorporated Hamilton County
946-4754or
Ed Weber, Storm Water Drainage System DivisionUnincorporated Hamilton County
946-4753
http://www.hamilton-co.org/pubworks/narative_sfha.htm
http://www.hamilton-co.org/pubworks/narative_sds.htm
Dick Regan, City of CincinnatiStorm Water Management
557-7131
Erosion
Is the prospective property likely to lose ground?
A few simple precautions can save enormous headaches later• Check the flood insurance maps
• Ask the neighbors
• Look for signs of stream bank erosion
Environmental Hazards
•Radon
•Water Supplies
•Lead in Soils
Radon is a natural component of soils and is highly variable from region to region and house to house
• Each house needs to be tested separately
• Remediation is inexpensive and effective
• Better to lose a sale than be accused of disguising a problem
Actions to Take
Drinking Water Problems
• Copper (Cu) in new construction
• Lead (Pb) in old construction
Hamilton Co. water comes from 2 sources: Miller & Bolton. Butler Co. gets some water from Mason.
Source: CWW reports
Pb and Copper data from Cinti Water Works"90th percentile values" 1992 1992 2001 2001Water system Source Pb Cu Pb Cu
Miller Ohio River 7.8 21.5 4.4 21.9Bolton G Miami aquifer 10.7 37.4 4.6 19.2Mason Shaker Cr aquifer na na <1 230
EPA limits 15 1300 15 1300na - CWW recently took over the Mason system
About Lead and Your Drinking Water
There is no detectable lead in our drinking water as it leaves the treatment plants. It is possible that lead levels in your home may be high because of your home's pipes and plumbing fixtures. Infants and young children are more vulnerable to lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about high lead levels, have your water tested at no charge by Greater Cincinnati Water Works by calling
513-591-7700.
Flushing your tap for up to two minutes before using the water and using only cold water for cooking are also helpful.
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/pages/-297-/
The major route of lead poisoning is actually soil and paint
• Roadside soils have high Pb
• Soils around older homes tend to have high Pb
• Dust on window sills can be very high in Pb
R2 = 0.3296
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Pb (ppm)
Dep
th (
cm)
Roadside soils (and those near houses with Pb paint) can have dangerous levels of Pb at the surface.
What to do?
As a developer, soil testing for Pb is cheap and can save major headaches later.
As a homeowner with small children, it can be a lifesaver.
The cost of environmental inspection is not trivial, but is very small in proportion to the risk.
A question for the audience
What role does the real estate agent have in helping the client recognize hazards?