A development to retain rainwater and avoid flooding in this village in Seine-Maritime

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The village of Saint-Germain-des-Essourts (Seine-Maritime) is located in a valley, below the towns of Longuerue or Vieux-Manoir. Duringbad weatherhe is on the front line when water runs along the fields and flows directly onto habitable areas.

After several notable incidents, a watershed was born upstream of the village.

Three houses flooded in 2018 and 2021

The question of a flood control structure has been raised for a long time in the town, threatened, due to its geographical position, by water runoff from neighboring towns. “The water that comes from Buchy or Vieux-Manoir flows here, in Saint-Germain-des-Essourts,” explains Anthony Vandewiele, member of the Andelle Watershed Mixed Syndicate (SYMA), before adding that “the major route of runoff comes from Longuerue”.

It is precisely this axis which caused, in 2018, the flooding of three houses located at the foot of pastures through which rainwater flows. When in 2021, these three homes found themselves underwater again, the exasperation of the occupants was felt.

There was one person who moved, there was even a petition.

“We have been relaunched several times,” confirms Anthony Vandewiele, “but watersheds are not works that are done overnight, it is a long mechanism,” he specifies.

In fact, these works are subject to public inquiry and validated by State services, before negotiation for the acquisition of the land and consultation with companies. In the end, almost eight years were necessary to finalize this essential development.

Nearly 6,000 cubic meters of storage

This rainwater collection area was set up in a private meadow, rue du Château. The structure is bordered by a dike aimed at retaining water in the basin with an area of ​​3,300 square meters, to a storage capacity of 5,900 cubic meters. When full, it takes 20 hours to drain naturally. Enough to avoid new disasters for homes at the bottom of the meadow.

The total cost of this structure amounts to 150 000 eurosfinanced by the Community of Communes Inter Caux Vexin and the municipality, via SYMA. Note that the work was carried out by the Norman company Lhotellier. The project manager is Écotone Ingénierie, a technical design office specializing in water and the environment.

To complete this work, a small buffer pond was dug upstream of the watershed, reducing the flow of runoff and promoting biodiversity.

Mayor Alain Burette says he is reassured after “all the work which was well carried out. We are very peaceful now.”

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