Water UK

Flooding review group recommends fresh look at emergency planning and asset vulnerability

04/02/08

Phase 1 of the review examined the emergency response to the unprecendented events of June and July 2007.

Review Group members have received evidence from involved and interested parties on issues including the industry's preparedness, communications, and mutual aid. Accordingly the recommendations are aimed primarily at the water industry and wider water sector.

The two key recommendations are that water companies should:

 •  put in hand a thorough review of their emergency response and contingency plans on the assumption that the scale of future floods may make current plans inadequate; and
 •  take a fresh look at the potential vulnerability of key assets, including the risks from other utility service failures.

Longer-term issues

The Group is now engaged in Phase 2 of the review which looks at wider policy matters. In this phase longer-term issues take centre stage including:

 •  the potential vulnerability of infrastructure and services to climate change;
 •  rising public expectations about the reliability of supply and reduced risk;
 •  responsibility for flood prevention and remediation.

Lessons learned from summer floods 2007 Phase 1 report - emergency response

Ends

For more information please contact:

Jim Marshall, Secretary to the Review Group
020 7344 1824

Notes

1) Members of the Flooding Review Group, led by independent chairman Sir John Baker, are Jonson Cox, Chief Executive, Anglian Water; John Cuthbert, Chief Executive, Northumbrian Water; Ronnie Mercer, Chairman, Scottish Water; Colin Skellett, Chairman and Chief Executive, Wessex Water.

2) The Review Group's Phase 2 report will be published in May 2008.