23/08/07
The recent severe flooding across parts of the UK caused misery and devastation for many. It is important that the reviews that follow cover the whole range of factors that contribute to flooding and its consequences.
This includes land use planning, waste disposal and flood risk, riverine and drainage networks and systems.
Water UK has argued for some years that legislative improvements need to be made to the administration of flood defence and storm water drainage.
Responsibility for these functions is currently split between Defra, the Environment Agency, internal drainage boards, sewerage undertakers and county and district councils, but no one has an overall duty of coordination.
In Holland by contrast responsibility is vested in the Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, and Netherlanders have not faced a major flooding problem since 1953.
Flooding impacts on many water company activities and can have serious implications for water and wastewater services. The key role for the water industry is in planning for and minimising the risks.
Water companies across the UK worked hard to provide assistance to the companies and their customers most severely impacted. Water UK is planning its own review into how this support worked and lessons learned at operational, strategic and policy levels. The industry will be pleased to share the findings with the official independent and EFRA Committee flooding reviews.
Learning from the floods
Press release
Contact: Bruce Horton
Latest news and policy direct to your desktop