Floods Glossary

design flood

Load value for the design of a hydraulic structure. This value is based on an event with a return period to be chosen by the planner. By definition, the structure gives no protection against events that are more extreme or more seldom than the design event. Flooding occurs if flood waters exceed the selected design values. Flood hydrograph or instantaneous peak discharge adopted for the design of a hydraulic structure or river control taking into account economic and hydrological factors.