Floods

Widespread flooding is usually caused by heavy and prolonged rainfall, when watercourses and drains cannot cope with the flow. Watercourse blockages also cause problems, but much will depend on how wet the ground is already. If the ground is saturated it cannot absorb more water. This can cause water to run much faster than usual into streams, drains and rivers, leading to floods.

Groundwater flooding occurs when the underground water table rises to a high level. Summer storms too can produce flash flooding if the ground is hard and dry, promoting run off and local flooding.

Flood risk identification

There are a number of ways to find out if a particular location is likely to flood. Local place names are often a good clue. Street names with a watery theme: for example, water, spring, well or brook in the title, are all strong hints that water is or once was nearby.

This alone does not mean that flooding is likely. The next step is to speak to local people. People move house more often nowadays, so when someone says, "this place hasn't flooded in living memory", they could actually mean since they have lived there, which may only be ten years or so. Local history societies may also be valuable sources of information.

Flood defence

All watercourses should be well maintained to minimise the threat of flooding. For ordinary watercourses (streams, brooks or minor rivers) maintenance is the landowner's or riparian owner's responsibility. In the case of road drainage and culverts, the appropriate highway authority is responsibility. If a riparian owner fails to maintain their watercourse and this causes flooding, we have powers to clear the watercourse (at the landowners' expense) to ensure free flow.

A free booklet called "Living on the Edge" explains the rights and responsibilities of riparian ownership in detail and is available for download on the Environment Agency's website.

Flood Warnings

Flood warnings are provided by the Environment Agency throughout England and Wales in areas which are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea.

The Environment Agency monitors rainfall, river levels and sea conditions 24 hours a day and use the information to forecast the possibility of flooding. If flooding is forecast, warnings are issued using one of three different warning types, which are;

A leaflet is available at the bottom of this page which gives more information on the three flood warning types. For further information, and guidance on how you can sign up to receive flood warnings, visit the Environment Agency website using the link below.

Who to contact

Emergency Planning

01494 421 890

Environment Agency's Floodline

The Environment Agency can supply flood risk information on any given location. You can find this information on their website or you can phone Floodline on 0845 988 1188. Floodline gives the most recent information about flood warnings in particular areas.

Thames Water - flooding from water pipes not on your property or sewers contact

0845 920 0800