The flood water in August 2002 conquered the flood barriers in Prague metro, which were prepared to withstand the so called “hundred year water”.

It is different today

In 2002 the Vltava water level was 50 cm higher than the flood defences. On the basis of this experience, Prague Public Transport Co (DPP) has installed flood measures that should prevent similar disasters in the future. The most important measure consists in building protective walls and preventing water from leakage through the sewage system.  “Even though water can be unpredictable, we strongly believe that all the measures introduced after August 2002 will prevent a similar disaster that happened 10 years ago from happening again,” said Ladislav Urbánek, DPP Director of Transport.

Higher than in 2002

Individual metro stations have now new higher protective walls, reaching 60 cm above the 2002 water level. Displacement of all petrol stations and their connection to sewage system were adjusted with the help of swing check valves that would prevent sewage water flowing back into the metro in the course of floods.

Cable grommets don’t pose risk anymore

Ten years ago, water also got into other metro stations through open cable grommets. Prague Transport Company now keeps evidence of all open cable grommets and closely monitors when and how they are closed. Thanks to new security measures, a grommet can be open 72 hours at maximum during repairs.

Other pressure gates

All pressure gates have also been renovated and their operation is regularly tested. One of the biggest changes consist in new flood monitoring rules, which enable timely evacuation and closure of stations and tunnels in endangered areas. “We are now much better prepared to predict floods. Several times a year we undertake crisis tests of all pressure gates in the metro,” adds Ladislav Urbánek.