The Government Department of Environment, Flood and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are the policy lead for flood risk and coastal erosion in England.
These policies are then undertaken by the relevant Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). RMAs are authorities or bodies that are responsible for the management of different risks across different areas. For flood risk management, several RMAs are responsible for overseeing different types or sources of flood risk. RMAs work in partnership and exchange information to reduce flood risks.
Homeowners are responsible for their own personal flood risks and private drainage features or infrastructure. Although RMAs cooperate and oversee flood risk management for different sources of flood risk, generally there is no right to be protected from flooding (unless in the case of a legal exception, for example nuisance from civil cases). Homeowners are responsible for their own properties and reducing their own flood risk. Homeowners are also responsible for any private drainage infrastructure located on their properties, serving only their property. It is therefore important to be aware of your flood risk and take measures to reduce the risk where appropriate.
Under the Royal Assent of the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), the relevant Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) are County Council or Unitary Authorities for the area that oversee flooding from ordinary watercourses (rivers, brooks and streams not categorised as main rivers), surface water and groundwater.
LLFAs are also required to prepare and maintain local flood risk management strategies for their areas, investigate significant local flooding incidents and publish the results, and play a lead role in emergency planning and recovery after a flood event. It should be noted, however, that not all incidents of flooding will require a formal investigation, and each Lead Local Flood Authority sets their own process and extent of flooding that is ‘necessary or appropriate to investigate’. As a general rule, this does not include external flooding to garages, gardens and highways.
The Environment Agency (EA) has a strategic overview of all sources of flooding and oversee flooding on watercourses designated as ‘Main Rivers’ and sea. This includes developing long-term approaches to manage flood risks and the national Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy. The Environment Agency also regulate reservoir safety and work in partnership with the Meteorological Office to provide flood forecasting and warning for these main rivers.
Local Government Borough and District Councils, where present, are able to carry out flood risk management works on ordinary watercourses that are not inside Internal Drainage Board areas. Borough or District Councils are also responsible for the maintenance of public open space. If this contains or is bound by an ordinary watercourse, then the Borough or District Council is also responsible for the maintenance of this watercourse.
Unitary, Borough and District Councils also have responsibilities for major incidents and emergencies as part of emergency planning. This includes undertaking risk assessments and having a risk register for their areas, as well as providing services in response to emergencies like rest centres.
National Highways are the highway authority that are responsible for maintaining and managing major highway (trunk roads and motorways) drainage and oversee flooding from major highways in England.
Local Highways Authorities have responsibility for providing and maintaining highway drainage and oversee flooding on local highways that are not deemed to be major highways (trunk roads and motorways).
Water companies are responsible for providing and managing water and sewerage services. They also manage the risk of flooding to these water supply and sewerage assets, and the risk to others from failure of their infrastructure. They ensure their systems have the appropriate level of resilience to flooding, and maintain essential services during emergencies, maintain and manage their water supply and sewerage systems to manage the impact, and reduce the risk of flooding and pollution to the environment.
A Riparian owner is any party or individual who has a watercourse within or adjacent to the boundary of their property. They are responsible for the maintenance of the riverbed and banks within their section of the watercourse to prevent obstruction to the water flow and mitigate flood risks.
Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) are independent public bodies that oversee land drainage and flooding from main rivers in their defined area or 'drainage district'.
More information about IDBs and a map of the areas of operation can be found on the Association of Drainage Authorities website.