Managing Music Festival Site Irrigation and Flood Prevention.

When using a greenfield site for a music festival organisers must do all they can to protect the site and prepare the ground for the proposed event. Open fields can be prone to flooding after heavy rainfall and equally can sustain significant damage in hot dry conditions. What can organisers do to manage a festival site to minimise flooding and damage.

A greenfield festival site can be subject to high numbers of construction vehicles for the installation of temporary structures. In addition, large numbers of vendors and festival-goers across a site with their associated car parking and camping zones can have a significant impact on the ground. Organisers must find a balance between flood prevention and irrigation that minimises damage yet makes the site usable and comfortable for all. Extensive planning and surveys will help organisers to determine what engineering works may be required to prevent flooding whilst keeping the site irrigated.

Site Planning and Inspections.
Festival organisers will always consider a potential site for an event by taking into account local infrastructure and the overall usable area to match their requirements for the expected volumes of festival-goers. Once a suitable site has been selected a series of site inspections are required to ascertain how stable the ground is under different conditions. Inspections may involve taking soil samples and investigating historical data regarding potential flooding. A full geological survey of the terrain can help establish the total useable area. Inspections are recommended at different times during variable conditions to check that water flows as excepted (hydrologic modelling). Once all this data has been gathered it can be input into sophisticated site layout software allows organisers to plan zones in line with flood risk mapping overlays. Site inspections can also reveal areas prone to erosion which can then be prepared for protection.

Flood Prevention.
In some cases, it may be necessary to install temporary drainage infrastructure like piping or gravel beds in addition to digging trenches to divert excess water away. It is essential that temporary structures are built on raised gravel beds prior to construction to ensure they are always above potential excess flood water. Despite comprehensive engineering works a site may still get some surface water after heavy rainfall which can quickly turn a site into a muddy quagmire. High traffic areas like pedestrian walkways and car parking zones can benefit from the installation of ground protection matting or interlocking flooring systems which helps prevent mud developing and protects the soil too. During the live event dates organisers should monitor the site conditions at all times and be ready to take remedial action if necessary. Access to metrological forecasts can provide advance data on expected severe weather and heavy rainfall. This advance information allows organisers to deploy emergency procedures which may include water pumps and sandbags to help divert flood water.

On-site Irrigations Systems.
Aside from potential flooding festival sites must implement water irrigation systems to handle wastewater and fresh water supplies as well as protecting the site from damage and erosion in extreme dry hot weather.  It will be unlikely that a greenfield site will have access to a local water main so all fresh water will need to be brought onto the site in tankers. This fresh water is used to supply drinking stations, vendors and bathroom facilities. If a site is likely to be subject to dry conditions, it may be prudent to install sprinkler systems to ensure that the ground receives a regular watering to maintain moisture levels. Vehicles with bowsers can be used to roam a site spraying water to prevent dust which can be hazardous to festival-goers as well as damaging sensitive equipment.

Sustainability and Damage Prevention.
As sustainability is a high priority for festival organisers they must implement strategies that help to protect a festival site adhering to the ‘leave no trace’ principle. Organisers can consider initiatives like rain harvesting that collects rainwater to be used for various purposes. Instilling a water and ground conservation mentality in all site attendees can help to save water and prevent unnecessary erosion. Treatment of a festival site post event can help it return to its natural state and can involve treatment of the topsoil with organic compost and nutrients with the addition of moisture where appropriate.

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

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