A survey of Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) responsible for managing surface water, the biggest source of flooding in England, finds they are significantly under-resourced to manage growing flood risk.
A new report by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), funded by the Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA) and the Local Government Technical Advisory Group for Flood Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM), also found that half of the RMAs who responded don’t have locally ring-fenced budgets to manage surface water flooding despite the growing risk, and three-quarters are struggling to recruit new staff.
With flash flooding such as that which hit parts of England on Tuesday and London in July 2021 projected to become more prevalent as climate change-induced extreme weather occurs more frequently, the need to manage surface water flood risk is crucial.
Responsibility sits with risk management authorities (RMAs) defined by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Most widely it falls to local authorities at the County or Unitary level. It also includes water companies and internal drainage boards.
Unlike flooding from rivers and the sea, surface water flooding can happen anywhere due to the local nature of the heavy downpours which commonly cause it. Urban development, with increasing areas of hard surface into which water cannot percolate, has exacerbated the problem. Stretched local authorities are struggling to manage these growing pressures which mean more than 5 million households are reported to be at risk from this form of flooding.
A survey of risk management authorities conducted in 2022 by CIWEM identified a range of pressures seriously impacting their ability to keep pace with and manage the growing risk. Most acutely these relate to staff resource available to review development planning applications and deliver flood management schemes. Inadequate and uncertain budgets, lack of clarity on their remits and responsibility, fragmented data and recruitment challenges are piling on the pressure.
The findings identify areas where improvement can be made, including better cooperation and collaboration between different RMAs working in the same locations, government and the Environment Agency providing better clarity on their expectations for managing surface water flood risk and where and how the different responsibilities fall. This should be underpinned by better data gathering and sharing between the authorities involved.
CIWEM President Steve Thompsett said: “This research presents a picture of the increasing pressures from climate change and urban development, set against under-gunned authorities responsible for managing them. There is progress being made, following various reviews over recent years but it’s not yet feeding through into the lived experience of many overstretched authorities.”
CIWEM Director of Innovation and Delivery Paul Shaffer said: “The results of the review aren’t surprising. However, this snapshot provides further evidence of the challenges faced by RMAs. Many of these challenges can be overcome by improved leadership and clarity from the Government and the Environment Agency. Improved engagement with and between RMAs is also vital and we’re keen to play our part to support improved collaboration, capacity and skills.”
LG FCERM TAG representative Vicky Boorman said: “We commissioned this independent report with CIWEM to really understand and highlight the progress with flood risk measures that vary depending on the source of flooding. The Climate Change Committee progress reports state we are not adapting to the increasing risks and we need to work more quickly. The National Infrastructure Commission report also highlights the need for increased focus and a growing need for funding to manage surface water.”
ASA Co-Chairs Laura Bigley and Vikki Keeble said: “Along with Local Government FCERM TAG, we commissioned and funded this important survey and report to bring to the fore the pressures and challenges those managing surface water flood risk and sustainable drainage face daily. Whilst the findings are sadly not surprising, we welcome the recommendations identified within the report and look forward to continuing to work with Defra and the Environment Agency to bring about positive change to address these challenges head on. With the implementation of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act expected in 2024, it has never been more important to raise the profile of surface water and sustainable drainage.”
