Drainage authorities are statutory bodies created by Act of
Parliament to provide a flood protection and water level management
service. Such "authorities" include within England and Wales the flood
defence committees of the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards
(IDBs), and local authorities. Different arrangements apply in Scotland.
The service is provided by a two tier system with the Environment
Agency's interests including sea, tidal defences and the major river
systems. IDB's having been established in particularly low lying
flood risk sensitive areas and local authorities focusing on the more
'local' urban requirements. This approach enables the Environment
Agency to concentrate on the major elements of the infrastructure and
the provision of a flood warning service leaving the IDB's to effect the
detailed water level management in clearly defined sensitive areas with
the local authorities responding to local needs. This division of
responsibility has many benefits but it clearly must deliver an
integrated service.
In England the Department of the Environment Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) is responsible for flood protection and land drainage.
It is Defra's job to make sure that operating authorities deliver a
satisfactory service in line with the requirements set out in
legislation, regulations and Government policies.
The Environment Agency has a number of regional offices and along
with other functions, is responsible for flood defence in England. It
has powers under the Water Resources Act 1991, Land Drainage Act 1991
and the Environment Act 1995 which provide for:-
general supervision over all aspects of flood defence
installation and operation of flood warning systems
constructing and maintaining sea, tidal and fluvial defences
improving and maintaining those waterways which are designated as 'main river'. This includes the major rivers in the country, the designation of which is confirmed by Defra and it is only upon such river lengths that the Agency is able to undertake 'operational' activities
regulating activities in and alongside river systems and defences on main river and other waterways, except those within an internal drainage district
These vary in size from a few hundred hectares to tens of
thousands of hectares, which influences the arrangements in place for
their administration. Large boards engage full-time administrative and
technical staff, while smaller boards contract work out or belong to a
group of boards managed under a consortium arrangement.
A drainage board has powers to undertake works on any watercourse within
its district, other than 'main river' (see map of area).
These form the major network into which other 'field' ditches, maintained
by the landowner/farmer and storm sewers from urban areas can
successfully drain.
The Land Drainage Acts 1991 and 1994 provide for:-
general supervision over all aspects of land drainage within the district
improving and maintaining the drainage system, including the operation of pumping stations
regulating activities in and alongside the drainage system, other than on those waterways designated as main river and under the Environment Agency's control
Local Authorities have similar powers to internal drainage boards
under the Land Drainage Act 1991 and these are mainly carried out by
District, Unitary and Metropolitan councils. The level of involvement on
flood defence and land drainage matters varies considerably, dependent
upon the nature of the council's area and particularly whether any
drainage districts are established within the Council's area.
The Land Drainage Acts 1991 and 1994 provide for:-
works to alleviate flooding
regulating activities in and alongside waterways, other than the 'main rivers' and within a drainage district
duties to conservation
raising income through general charging arrangements to cover the costs of flood alleviation schemes and other land drainage work
It should be noted that Local Authorities also have powers under the Public
Health Act 1936.
