Oxford Flood Plan · Reviewed June 2008 OXFORD AREA FLOOD INFORMATION Contents Section Page 1...
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Reviewed June 2008 1 3 rd EDITION O O X X F F O O R R D D A A R R E E A A F F L L O O O O D D I I N N F F O O R R M M A A T T I I O O N N Guidance Booklet to the Management of Flooding & Flood Risk
Transcript of Oxford Flood Plan · Reviewed June 2008 OXFORD AREA FLOOD INFORMATION Contents Section Page 1...
Reviewed June 2008
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3rd EDITION
OOXXFFOORRDD AARREEAA FFLLOOOODD IINNFFOORRMMAATTIIOONN
Guidance Booklet to the Management of
Flooding & Flood Risk
Reviewed June 2008
BLANK PAGE
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OXFORD AREA FLOOD INFORMATION
Contents
Section Page 1 INTRODUCTION 5
2 PARTNERING ORGANISATIONS 7
3 FLOOD RESPONSE INFORMATION
- Contact Details for Partners 9 - Flooding Information 12 - Response to Flood Warning & Flooding 20 - Health Risks 28
4 ALLEVIATING THE CAUSES OF FLOODING
- Definitions of Watercourses & Drainage Systems 30 - Powers and Responsibilities for Maintenance 33 - Maintenance Priorities 35
5 OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION 48
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This document has been produced by the Oxford Area Flood Group. Organisation representatives sitting on the Group were:
John Hill (Chair) Oxford City Council
Richard Gosling Oxford City Council
Steve Smith Oxford City Council
Gathorne Gough Vale of White Horse District Council
Peter Dela Vale of White Horse District Council
John Kelly Oxfordshire County Council
Gordon Hunt Oxfordshire County Council
Katharine Dolman Environment Agency
Roger Penny Thames Water Utilities Ltd
Graham Long Network Rail
The Oxford Area Flood Group aims to annually review this document. The current representatives sitting on the Group are:
Richard Gosling Oxford City Council Town Hall, Blue Boar St, Oxford, OX1 4EY.
Steve Smith Oxford City Council Ramsay House, 10 St Ebbe’s St, Oxford, OX1 1PT.
Andrew Burchett Oxford City Council Marsh Road, Oxford, OX4 2HH.
Gathorne Gough Vale of White Horse DC Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3JE.
Peter Dela Vale of White Horse DC Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3JE.
Anthony Concannon Oxfordshire County Council Emergency Planning Unit, Woodeaton Manor, Oxford, OX3 9GU.
Gordon Hunt Oxfordshire County Council Speedwell House, Speedwell St, Oxford, OX1 1NE.
Katharine Dolman Environment Agency Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8DB.
Nigel Bray Environment Agency Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8DB.
Jenny Elliott Thames Water Utilities Ltd Sewage Works, Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford, OX4 4XU.
Roger Penny Thames Water Utilities Ltd Sewage Works, Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford, OX4 4XU.
Graham Long Network Rail Network Rail Didcot Depot, 18 Basil Hill Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7HJ.
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Section One
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The current decade has seen the worst floods in the Thames Valley since 1947. In July 2007 the Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning for Oxford. Large areas in South and West Oxford, together with areas in Wolvercote and the neighbouring villages of Kennington and South Hinksey, were severely affected for several days. There was considerable disruption to transport services and businesses and a number of properties had to be evacuated.
1.2. This FLOOD INFORMATION has been drawn up in partnership with the Environment Agency, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Thames Water Utilities Ltd and Network Rail. It aims to provide residents in and around Oxford with information about the roles and responsibilities of the partners for:
• Maintaining the complex network of rivers, brooks, culverts, sewers and drains, which are relied upon for removing rainwater from the areas in which we live and work.
• And what can be expected from the partners in a flooding emergency.
1.3. This information is provided in four sections:
• AN INTRODUCTION to the PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
• RESPONDING TO FLOOD EMERGENCIES
• ALLEVIATING THE CAUSES OF FLOODING
• OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
1.4. The RESPONSE TO FLOODING EMERGENCIES section gives details of how residents can help themselves and how the partners come together to manage flooding emergencies. Flooding is not confined to the City Council’s administrative boundaries. Agencies in the Oxford area have detailed emergency plans for all major incident types including flooding.
1.5. The section ALLEVIATING THE CAUSES OF FLOODING gives information about responsibilities for maintaining land drainage and flood defences in the geographical area of Oxford City, and the neighbouring parishes of North Hinksey, South Hinksey and Kennington in the Vale of White Horse District. A complex network of rivers, streams, culverts, highway drains, public surface water sewers and private drains drain the area. Responsibility for this network is shared between several
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organisations, which have jointly drawn up this document for public information.
1.6. The South and West quarters of Oxford, Port Meadow, Lower Wolvercote and neighbouring Kennington, Old Botley and South Hinksey are located within the River Thames floodplain. Part of Oxford and neighbouring Kidlington are located within the Cherwell floodplain. The floodplain is a terrace of rich meadows that first attracted early settlers to build permanent dwellings in the area. It has been formed by a natural cycle of seasonal flooding, which began at the end of the Ice Age and continues today. As Oxford has expanded, development has encroached into areas of the floodplain. It is therefore natural that rivers should endeavour to reclaim these areas in times of exceptionally high rainfall.
1.7. Flood defence measures have been installed by previous generations of inhabitants to limit the harm flooding can cause to property and economic activity in the area. However, continued pressure to provide more homes and expected changes in the weather patterns will require further measures if serious flooding is not to become more frequent around the Oxford area.
1.8. Flooding will remain a risk that cannot be entirely eliminated. The planned maintenance of flood defences aims to reduce the risk of and mitigate the effects of flooding, by making the most of the existing natural and man-made drainage infrastructure.
1.9. The Land Drainage Acts 1991 & 1994 is the principal statutory legislation that defines the role of the Environment Agency, and local councils in managing land drainage in England and Wales.
1.10. Figure 1 shows the geographical area that this document covers. The map shows the River Thames, the River Cherwell and other Main River watercourses supervised by the Environment Agency. It also shows the extent of the indicative 1-in-100 and 1-in-1000 year flood zones. There are many watercourses not shown on the map. The District Council supervises these.
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Section Two
2. PARTNERING ORGANISATIONS
2.1. Environment Agency:
The Environment Agency is responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. One aspect of the Environment Agency’s work is reducing risks to people and to the developed and natural environment from flooding through:
• Flood forecasting, flood warning and response.
• Discouraging inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding.
• Managing flood risk.
The Thames in Oxford is administered from the regional offices in Reading and the area office in Wallingford.
2.2. Oxfordshire County Council:
Oxfordshire County Council is the Highway Authority for the districts of Oxford City, Vale of White Horse, South Oxfordshire, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire. The County has a statutory duty to maintain roads, bridleways and footpaths within its area registered as “Highway Maintainable at Public Expense”. The County Council does not have a responsibility for trunk roads or motorways in the County. These are the responsibility of the Department for Transport and its agent – the Highways Agency.
2.3. Oxford City Council:
Oxford City Council is the principal second tier “Operating Authority” in the Oxford District. The City does not have a statutory duty to maintain watercourses, but it can use certain provisions in the Land Drainage Acts to secure the proper function of minor watercourses in its area.
2.4. Vale of White Horse District Council:
The Vale of White Horse District Council is the principal second tier “Operating Authority” in the Kennington, Botley, North and South Hinksey areas of Oxfordshire covered by this plan. The Vale does not have a statutory duty to maintain watercourses, but it can use certain provisions in the Land Drainage Acts to secure the proper function of Ordinary Watercourses in its area.
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2.5. Thames Water Utilities:
Thames Water Utilities Ltd is a regulated utility company, which is owned by Kemble Water Limited. Kemble Water is a consortium led by Macquarie’s European Infrastructure Funds, which is Australia’s largest securities firm. The Secretary of State has appointed Thames Water Utilities as the statutory sewerage and water undertaker in the Thames Valley region. It is the largest UK water and wastewater company and is responsible for operating 31,000km of water mains and 66,000km of sewers in the Thames region.
2.6. Network Rail:
Network Rail is a not-for-dividend company that is responsible for maintaining the entire railway infrastructure nationwide. The Thames Valley area office, which is part of the Western Territory of Network Rail, maintains the track in the Oxford area. The area office is located in Reading with a local depot at Didcot. Local bridges and other structures belonging to Network Rail are managed from the territory HQ in Swindon.
2.7. British Waterways:
British Waterways is a public corporation that cares for over 3,000km of inland waterways in the UK. The Oxford Canal is managed from its South East Division Office in Milton Keynes.
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FLOOD RESPONSE INFORMATION Contact details for each agency and other useful information
Agency Daytime contact number Out of hours Thames Water www.thameswater.com
0845 920 0800 0845 920 0800
Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk
0800 807 060 0800 807 060
Environment Agency Floodline
0845 988 1188 Quickdial numbers Thames = 011122 Cherwell = 0112311
0845 988 1188 Quickdial numbers Thames = 011122 Cherwell = 0112311
Oxford City Council www.oxford.gov.uk
01865 249811 01865 249811
Oxford City Council City Works Engineering Services Cowley Marsh Depot
01865 252900 Flooding office hours (Oxford City area)
07802 904000 Flooding after hours (Oxford City area)
Oxford City Council Environmental Health
01865 252564 Via Control Centre on 01865 742138
Oxfordshire County Highways 0845 310 1111 0845 310 1111
Vale of White Horse District Council
01235 520202 01235 524886
West Oxfordshire District Council 01993 861000 01933 705056
South Oxfordshire District Council
01491 823000 01491 824033
Cherwell District Council 01235 252535 01235 252535
Scottish and Southern Electric 08457 708090 08457 708090
Transco Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999 0800 111 999
Meteorological Office 08709 000100 08709 000100
British Waterways 01908 302500 0800 479 9947
Network Rail 08457 114141 08457 114141
Thames Valley Police 0845 8 505 505 0845 8 505 505
Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue 01865 842999 01865 842999
Local Media BBC Oxford – 95.2FM www.bbc.co.uk\oxford Tele: 0845 931 1444 Fox FM – 102.6FM www.foxfm.co.uk Tele: 01865 871000
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Section Three
FLOOD RESPONSE INFORMATION 3.1 INTRODUCTION a) What this section does
This section provides general advice about flooding and what you can do to help protect your property. It also provides information on the role of each agency that helps with flooding and how they might respond. b) Personal and public agency responsibility Whilst public agencies have a major role in the event of flooding, it is important to remember they cannot do everything. Individual householders and owners of land adjacent to certain watercourses have a responsibility too. Riparian owners and occupiers have particular responsibilities in respect of watercourses, and these are set out in the Environment Agency's publication “Living on the Edge” available from the Environment Agency national customer contact centre on 08708 506506, and website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk). Owners of properties at risk of flooding have a responsibility to help themselves and protect their homes from flooding (Section 5 will help you to find sources of information about protecting your property).
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3.2 FLOODING INFORMATION a) Weather warnings
The Meteorological Office issues severe weather warnings that are distributed to the emergency services and local councils in the Oxford area. These include forecasts of very heavy rain or snow, which could lead to flash flooding of roads and watercourses. Under the National Severe Weather Warning System, advice of severe weather is provided to many agencies. These warnings will also be passed on to the public through national and local weather forecasts on TV, local radio, and Ceefax, which will mention potential flooding.
The Meteorological Office also issue flash and early severe weather warnings via their website (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se).
Early Warnings of Severe or Extreme Weather – These are issued when the Met Office has 60% or greater confidence that severe weather is expected in the next few days.
Flash Warning of Severe or Extreme Weather – These are issued when the Met Office has 80% or greater confidence that severe weather is expected in the next few hours.
Advisory Warning of Severe or Extreme Weather – These advisories are issued by 1100 daily as routine and indicate confidence of expected severe or extreme weather. Early warnings and Flash Warnings supersede advisories when confidence levels are 60% or greater.
b) Types of flooding
The types of flooding that could occur in the Oxford area are:
Fluvial Flooding – Main River channels are unable to cope with the volume of water entering the river system. The river waters over-top the channel banks and the excess water is stored in the floodplain. Low-lying properties within the floodplain are at risk of flooding. As flooding gets worse floodwater will extend from the floodplain into other areas.
Flash Flooding – Road gullies and local watercourses are unable to cope with a downpour. Water collects in lower spots and local watercourses can be overwhelmed leading to floodwater flowing temporarily over ground. Properties adjacent to any water flowing over the ground are at risk of inundation.
Groundwater – There are no major aquifers in the Oxford area. However, there are isolated areas of an ancient gravel terrace in West and South Oxford, which are water bearing. The groundwater levels in the gravels do rise and fall as water levels in adjacent rivers change. Properties with cellars or suspended floors built on the gravels are vulnerable to groundwater leaking into them. Owners are strongly advised to obtain professional advice before considering any change of use of these areas.
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Sewerage – There are two separate sewerage systems in the Oxford area. One collects and disposes of rainwater to the nearest watercourse. A separate system collects wastewater from within dwellings and delivers it to the Sandford Sewage works for treatment and disposal. Thames Water Utilities Ltd manages both systems. The waste water system also relies on a number of pumping stations, which have means of automatically warning in the event of a breakdown. The pipe-work that carries the wastewater to the local pumping station may become blocked, which in some circumstances can lead to over-ground flooding. Properties with sanitary fittings in the cellar are more at risk of internal flooding. Owners are strongly advised to obtain professional advice before considering any change of use, particularly if it is to be made into habitable space.
Water Mains – Fresh water is delivered to every dwelling in the City and surrounding district by a local network of pipes buried in the ground, typically about 90cm deep. Most of the pipes are relatively small in diameter. There are a number of breakages each year, the majority being the result of contractors excavating close to the pipes. While these breakages can cause disruption to the water supply, they rarely cause serious flooding. However, the local network is fed by a small number of large water mains that, if fractured, can cause serious flooding.
c) Preparing for flooding
To see if your home, business or land is near to a potential source of flooding, use the Environment Agency’s “What’s in your backyard?” web page at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. Wherever you live the following information will help you take steps to reduce risks and increase your protection from flooding.
If you live in an area where there can be a high risk of flooding, whilst the emergency services and local authorities will do everything possible to help, it is your responsibility to look after your property. You might find the following advice helpful in case of flooding:
Make a family flood plan Flooding often happens quickly and when you least expect it. Making a flood plan is an excellent way of preparing you and your family should a serious flood take place. When devising your flood plan, be sure to involve everyone in your home – including your children. Make sure everyone knows what will happen should you need to put your flood plan into action. Practising it beforehand is one way for you to make sure everyone is prepared.
A list of useful numbers Make sure you have a list of all the useful phone numbers that you need: for example your local council, the emergency services, your insurance company, the Environment Agency’s Floodline number (0845 988 1188) and the quickdial code relevant for your location (see page 9).
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Useful contacts can also be found in the Oxfordshire Flood Directory, which can be ordered by calling the Environment Agency on 0845 988 1188.
Put together your own flood kit The first step in protecting and helping yourself before flooding is to make sure you have made your own flood kit and that everyone in your house knows where to find it. These can be made up from common items around the home such as:
• Important personal documents
• A torch and spare batteries • A battery-powered or wind-up
radio • Rubber gloves • A first-aid kit • Baby essentials • Pet essentials • Important phone numbers • A disposable camera • Wellington boots • Waterproof clothing • Mobile phone and charger • Blankets • Toiletries • Thermos.
Children’s essentials Make a list of the vital items you will need. For example, milk, baby food, sterilised bottles and spoons, nappies and wipes, nappy bags, spare clothing, comforter, favourite toy or best teddy.
Medication Would you need to take any family medication?
Valuable and sentimental belongings Get into the habit of storing them upstairs or in a high place downstairs.
Flood boards and sandbags Have a few flood boards or sandbags prepared to block doorways and airbricks. There are more details about flood protection later in this document.
Gas and electricity Do you know where and how to turn off supplies, even in the dark?
Car Where would you move it to and at what point?
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Evacuation If the flooding is severe, you may be evacuated. What would you need to take with you and what provision can you make for family pets? If you choose to leave the house (without being evacuated) do you know where you would go and how would you get there? If you decide to stay in the house but decamp upstairs, make a list of all the things you will need.
Advice and guides There is a range of fact sheets, advice and guides available from the partner organisations. These are designed to help you prepare for flooding and a list can be found in Section 5. The Environment Agency has produced a comprehensive range of guides and flooding advice and information. These are listed in Section 5 but further information that is frequently updated can be found on the website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
d) Flood protection products
A range of products is available to help reduce or prevent flooding of homes and businesses.
Barriers, boards and covers are more suited to areas where there is a history of flooding, usually each year.
The Environment Agency is supporting the Kite Mark scheme, which ensures that flood protection products are fit for their purpose. A number of products bearing the Kite Mark are already on the market and these are listed on the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
The National Flood Forum publicises regular “Flood Fairs” where visitors can seek expert advice, talk to retailers and buy flood protection products. The National Flood Forum lists non-Kite-Marked flood protection products on its website at www.floodforum.org.uk.
Retailers are represented by a trade organisation, the Flood Protection Association.
e) In the event of flooding
If flooding occurs you might find the following advice helpful: 1. Take all practical steps to prevent water from entering your property
2. Do your best to put moveable belongings at a higher level
3. Be prepared to move upstairs or to leave your home. Pack a suitcase with spare clothing, wash kit, valuables and medicines
4. If you decide to leave, turn off electricity and gas at the mains
5. Make certain that you have home contents insurance (and building insurance if you are a house owner) and take the policy details with you
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6. Lock your house before leaving and tell the police as soon as possible that you have moved out for the foreseeable future (t: 0845 8 505 505)
Remember floodwater is dangerous – take care of children and pets
When appropriate, flood warnings and advice will be broadcast on local radio so stay tuned!
f) Flood Warnings and what they mean
The Environment Agency’s Local Flood Warning Plan for Oxfordshire provides details of the Flood Warning arrangements for Oxfordshire. The River Thames and the River Cherwell are the two largest rivers in the area covered by this plan where there is a risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency is responsible for issuing Flood Warnings to the public, businesses, local authorities, utilities and the emergency services and the media. There are four warning codes, which can be issued in any order. These are:
Flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected. Be aware! Be prepared! Watch out!
Flooding of homes and businesses is expected. Act now!
Severe flooding is expected. There is extreme danger to life and property. Act now!
Flood Watches and Flood Warnings are no longer in force in this area.
Flood Watch is issued for areas of the floodplain within a catchment or group of catchments at risk from minor impact flooding from Main Rivers and Ordinary Watercourses. It is generally only issued to those people closest to the river or rural landowners, local authorities and emergency services. When a Flood Watch is issued people may consider taking the following action where they can:
– Ring Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for up-to-date flooding information
– Tune in to weather and travel bulletins (Radio Oxford on 95.2FM or Fox FM on 102.6FM)
– Keep a watch on the weather and water levels
– Tell your family, friends and neighbours
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– Drive carefully – roads may be flooded
– Check livestock and keep pets safe
– Check availability of torches and batteries
– Be prepared – be aware – watch out!
– Check where to turn off your gas and electricity supply.
Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning relate to specific Flood Warning areas at risk of flooding from rivers. Oxford falls within two Flood Warning areas. They are: Lower Heyford to Oxford on the River Cherwell and Eynsham Lock to Sandford Lock on the River Thames.
Flood Warnings are issued when the Environment Agency is expecting property to flood. When a Flood Warning is issued people may consider taking the following action where they can:
– Ring Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for up-to-date flooding information
– Stay tuned to radio (Radio Oxford on 95.2FM or Fox FM on 102.6FM) and television weather, news and travel bulletins
– Move family, pets and valuables to safety
– Farmers – move livestock to higher ground
– Help neighbours
– Use sandbags or flood boards to block doors and airbricks
– Don’t drive through floodwater
– Be prepared to turn off gas and electricity supply.
Severe Flood Warnings are issued when extreme danger to life and property within a Flood Warning area is anticipated. When a Severe Flood Warning is issued people may consider taking the following action where they can:
– Protect yourself, your family, pets and valuables – floods can kill
– Co-operate with emergency services and the authorities – people may be evacuated from their homes to emergency centres
– Ring Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for up-to-date flooding information
– Stay tuned to radio (Radio Oxford on 95.2FM or Fox FM on 102.6FM) and television weather, news and travel bulletins
– Turn off power supplies and be ready for power cuts and loss of services including water supply
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– Avoid contact with floodwater – it may be contaminated. All Clears are issued when floodwaters have subsided and there is no longer considered to be a risk of flooding. When an All Clear is issued people may consider keeping an eye on the weather and water levels in case the situation deteriorates and new Flood Watches or Flood Warnings are issued.
Flood Warnings are issued via the Environment Agency’s Flood Warning System; Floodline Warnings Direct, and also displayed on their website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Floodline Warning Direct is a multi media messaging system used by the Environment Agency to provide a free Flood Warning service to people who have registered with the Agency to receive this service.
If you live in or have a business in an area that could flood, you are strongly advised to register for this free service.
Telephone: 0845 988 1188
g) Sandbags Whilst local authorities have no statutory obligation to provide material for flood protection, some, as far as their resources will allow, will supply sandbags as an emergency measure. Telephone your District Council for the latest information about availability of sandbags and where they can be collected from. You will find their number on the contact details sheet. The current policy of each local authority is summarised below:
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Local Authority Policy (see websites for further details) Oxford City Council
Will supply sandbags free of charge – resources permitting.
Vale of White Horse
The Council will always try to provide assistance where it is considered most needed and if resources, circumstances and budgets permit. It has a limited supply of sandbags, which are used primarily for the protection of vulnerable homes – when occupied homes are in imminent danger of flooding or have a history of flooding. We cannot provide sandbags for protecting gardens or outbuildings.”
South Oxfordshire “The Council provides sandbags free of charge to residential properties that are in imminent danger of flooding. Sandbags are also available to commercial properties for a small charge (£5 per bag).”
Cherwell District The primary responsibility for the protection of his/her property lies with the householder. The Council will keep stocks of filled sandbags with which to respond in cases of flooding emergencies. These stocks will be replenished as soon as practicable as they are used. The Council’s powers in helping to relieve flooding and prevent flood damage are permissive. The Council will respond to calls for assistance as much as possible – consistent with its resources at the time and the circumstances of the flooding. The Council will not promise to deliver sandbags but it will do so as far as resources and circumstances allow. The Council will deliver sandbags free of charge to private householders in times of emergency but may make a small charge to businesses. The Council will not collect used sandbags. Householders will be expected to dispose of these themselves.
West Oxfordshire “The Council has no legal responsibility to provide assistance to residents of the district during times of flood; however, the Council has provided emergency assistance on an ad hoc basis dependent upon local knowledge and experience of the situation.” The Council will provide sandbags or other such equipment as it feels appropriate, if they are available, to assist with the defence from flooding to persons or property within the district.”
County Council May provide back-up supplies, resources permitting. County Council will also co-ordinate the acquisition of further supplies from sources such as the Army, if these are available.
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However, householders are advised not to rely on the Council being able to respond to all needs in an emergency and should consider measures that can be taken now to prepare for potential flooding in the future. Householders and businesses should make their own plans to handle a flood emergency, including providing their own sandbags. You can buy sandbags from builders' merchants. However, there is nothing special about sandbags. Other types of bag like growbags, bin liners or plastic bags filled with earth can also help to keep water out. The Environment Agency provides comprehensive information about how both to protect your property from flooding and what to do if you are affected (see information on publications in Section 5 or the Environment Agency’s website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk).
3.3 RESPONSE The response to a major flooding incident involves a number of organisations working together at a local level, namely the police, fire service, local authorities, Environment Agency and other bodies such as British Waterways, public utility companies, the communications media, voluntary organisations and the public. Outlined below are the broad roles and responsibilities of these organisations. In most cases the scale of flooding in the area will dictate the available resources. a) Emergency Response Most agencies have generic emergency plans to deal with the consequences of any major incident and most contain additional information on specific incidents such as flooding. These plans are regularly exercised and many of the agencies deal with emergencies on a day-to-day basis. These plans provide details of available resources and contacts to enable additional resources to be made available. These could include rest centres to accommodate evacuated residents, transport, sandbags, helplines etc. There is a nationally agreed Command and Control system for major incidents and the same principles would apply in the event of major flooding. The response is organised at three levels:
Bronze – the operational level Bronze is the level at which the management of immediate ‘hands-on’ work is undertaken at the site(s) of the emergency. Personnel first on the scene will take immediate steps to assess the nature and extent of the problem. Bronze commanders will concentrate their effort on the specific tasks within their areas of responsibility – for example, the police will concentrate on establishing cordons, maintaining security and managing traffic. In most instances, the police will co-ordinate the operational response at the scene to ensure a coherent and integrated multi-agency response.
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Silver – the tactical level The purpose of the silver level is to ensure that the actions taken by bronze are co-ordinated and coherent in order to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency. Silver will usually comprise the most senior officers of each agency committed within the area of operations, and will assume tactical command of the situation, usually from an incident control point located nearby or directly adjacent to the scene. They will address issues such as the setting up of an outer cordon, and the location of key functions or facilities such as a survivor assembly point, casualty clearing station and media liaison point. In Oxfordshire silver will normally be located at a police station.
Gold – the strategic level If it becomes necessary to implement multi-agency management at the gold level, a Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) (commonly referred to as ‘gold command’ or simply ‘gold’) would be formed, which brings together gold commanders from relevant organisations to establish the policy and strategic framework within which silver will work. Chairing the SCG will normally fall to the police. However, depending on the circumstances it may be more appropriate for another agency to take the lead (for instance, the local authority may take the lead in the recovery phase). In Oxfordshire gold will normally be located at Thames Valley Police HQ in Kidlington. Several voluntary agencies may be available to provide assistance during an incident, such as the Red Cross and WRVS. The County Council will co-ordinate these resources. In addition, resources such as Military Aid, support from regional government and commercial organisations may be available. Recovery Working Group At the earliest opportunity during a flooding event the many agencies will meet to plan for returning to normal, once the emergency is over. This group is known as the Recovery Working Group.
The Recovery Working Group (RWG) brings together the key agencies involved and is led by a senior officer of the agency most appropriate to the task. In many cases, the local authority, given its functions in relation to the remediation of the physical environment, will lead the RWG co-ordination of welfare support and community leadership. The RWG will seek to:
• ensure that longer-term recovery priorities are reflected in the planning and execution of the response; • ensure that relevant organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors are engaged in the recovery effort from the earliest opportunity; and • ensure continuity of the management of the emergency once the response phase has concluded.
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b) Agency Roles and Responsibilities Environment Agency The Environment Agency role in a major flooding event is as follows:
Issue Flood Warnings; • •
•
• • •
• •
•
• •
•
Maintenance and operation of Environment Agency-owned flood defences; Monitoring water levels and flows, assessing risk, clearing obstructions from known pinch points and advising other organisations and local flood groups as appropriate; Respond to pollution incidents; Advise on waste disposal issues; Check flood defences, undertake essential repairs on Environment Agency-owned structures and advise other owners as to their maintenance responsibilities; Advise the police on the need to declare a major civil emergency; Support the joint response by providing representatives to the various emergency control points; By local agreement, once it has ensured that its own systems and defences are secure, the Agency supports the police and local authority by providing materials, equipment and staff, as far as its resources and other duties permit.
British Waterways The British Waterways role in a major river flooding event is as follows:
Protecting its own structures; On its own navigation system, and along with other bodies, helps to warn the public using the navigation; British Waterways could also provide specialist equipment, materials and other resources, as appropriate, by local agreement.
Network Rail Network Rail’s role in major river flooding events is as follows:
• Protect its own structures and services; • Advise rail customers of disruption and delay to services; • Attend flooding emergencies at their own service installations; • Repair services disrupted by flood events; • Advise local authorities and the communications media when disrupted
services will return to normal; • Clear culverts and watercourses on its own land.
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Local authority In major flood situations, local authorities provide a response in order to care for people affected. The precise nature and extent of the response will depend upon available resources and local arrangements. General – both County and District Council
Co-ordination of the local authority response and liaison with other organisations and local flood groups, including provision, if required, of a representative to support police arrangements for co-ordination;
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•
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•
• •
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Emergency care including feeding, accommodation and welfare for those who have been evacuated from their homes or those affected by flooding but remaining in their homes; Emergency transport for personnel, equipment, materials such as sandbags and, if necessary, evacuation; Information services for liaison with the media on the local authority response and for information to the public, relatives of evacuees etc; Flood alleviation – for flood prevention, e.g. clearance of blocked culverts, dealing with flooded roads and diversions and possibly other assistance to the public, such as drying-out facilities, and issuing sandbags; Providing road barriers and signs; Joint agency co-ordination of non-life-threatening floods and of the recovery phase following a flooding incident; Restoration and maintenance of local authority services; Control and co-ordination of the various elements of local authority services and other agencies; Labour (direct or via contractor); Transport and plant (direct or via contractors).
County Council roles and responsibilities
• Provide 24-hour, 7-day emergency contact point for all local authorities in Oxfordshire;
• Maintain safe conditions on the roads; • Put Flood Warning signs on the highway; • Organise road closures and traffic diversions; • Clear blockages on highway drainage systems including watercourses
in culverts beneath the highway; • May take action to protect property from flooding by water from the
highway where there is a failure of the highway drainage system; • Lead in major civil emergency arrangements; • Maintain safety of road bridges and culverts in the highway; • Maintaining the roads and road drainage (however, some roads may
be the responsibility of the Highways Agency or private owners); • Looking after the elderly, infirm and vulnerable; • Co-ordination of the voluntary response; • Arrange short-term accommodation for evacuees – for example, rest
centres in schools;
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• Pass on warnings to district councils. District Council – roles and responsibilities
• Co-ordinating role for the Council area; • Emergency assistance; • Principal responsibilities for homelessness in the longer term (i.e.
helping to re-house vulnerable people made homeless where there is no alternative solution);
• Assist Council tenants – housing, housing repairs, control centre and rest centre liaison;
• Clear blocked watercourses etc. (Land Drainage Act powers); • Blocked road channels and gully gratings – street cleaning; • Sandbag provision – subject to individual Council policy; • Waste collection; • Environmental health – public health advice following a flood (e.g. on
drinking water, food safety etc); • Rest centres – short term/few people (i.e. community centres etc); • Advice on dangerous building structures (Building Control).
Police At a major flooding event, the police service is responsible for:
Co-ordinating the emergency services, local authorities, media etc; •
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Assisting in the saving of life and protection of property;
Where practicable, establish cordons to facilitate the work of the other emergency services in the saving of life, the protection of the public and the care of survivors;
Oversee any criminal investigation;
Secure, protect and preserve the scene, and control traffic;
Facilitate inquiries carried out by the responsible accident investigation body;
Process casualty information and have responsibility for identifying and arranging the removal of the dead;
In the event of the agreed procedures for warning and informing communities at risk not being effective, then, where practicable, assistance will be given.
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Fire and Rescue In flooding, the fire and rescue service has limited resources and there is often little it can do once the rescue phase is over. For example, when a building is flooded and floodwaters are still high outside, there is no point at all in pumping water out. The fire service role in a major flooding event is as follows:
The saving of life and rescuing trapped people from fire, wreckage or debris;
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The containment and extinguishing of fires and undertaking protective measures to prevent them;
To prevent, contain and make safe spillage or release of chemicals, radioactive materials or other hazardous substances;
To assist the ambulance service with casualty handling;
To assist the police with the recovery of bodies;
The provision of monitoring procedures in respect of health and safety of those persons operating within an established inner cordon;
Carrying out essential damage control operations, such as pumping out floodwater and salvage works – some fire services charge for such services;
Assess hazards concerning evacuation;
Ensure safety of rescue personnel;
To assist other relevant agencies, particularly the local authority, to minimise the effects of major flooding on the community.
Ambulance
• Save life in conjunction with other emergency services;
• Extricate, assist and stabilise injured people;
• Provide ambulances, medical staff, equipment and resources;
• Establish effective triage points and systems;
• Provide a central point for medical resources;
• Provide communication facilities;
• Alert receiving hospitals;
• Provide transport for medical teams and their equipment;
• Arrange transport for injured people;
• Maintain emergency cover.
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PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES Thames Water The water companies are responsible for the supply of clean drinking water and for the removal and treatment of sewage. Unusually heavy rainfall, typically in the form of severe localised storms, can overwhelm drainage systems and cause flooding, particularly in low-lying areas. In these circumstances untreated sewage may spill out onto the streets and gardens. Other roles include:
Emergency pumping or tankering at pumping stations; •
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Clearing blockages in public sewers and outfall grills;
Repairing burst sewage and water pumping mains;
Assist where possible to reduce the amount of water escaping from the system;
Carry out a tidy-up of areas where sewage has been deposited once flooding has subsided;
Take action to protect property from flooding by water from the public water mains, or discharges from the public sewerage systems;
Provision of emergency water supplies;
Provision of portable toilets in some cases. Utilities – gas, electricity and telephones
Secure their services and equipment to ensure continuity of supply;
Repair services disrupted by flood events;
Provide alternative means of supply during service disruption if life and health risks are identified;
Advise local authorities and the communications media when disrupted services will be reinstated;
Attend emergencies relating to their service at properties putting life at risk as a result of flooding;
Attend flooding emergencies at their own service installations.
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VOLUNTARY AGENCIES British Red Cross (Tel: 0844 871 11 11) (Website: http://www.redcross.org.uk/ )
Assist with care of evacuees. • St John Ambulance (Tel 01865 378228) (Website: http://www.sja.org.uk/oxfordshire/ )
Help with ambulance facilities/first aid. • WRVS (Tel: 01235 442 900)
(Website: http://www.wrvs.org.uk/ )
Assist with care of evacuees; • • Emergency feeding. Radio Amateurs Emergency Network (RAYNET) (RAYNET is the UK’s national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed radio amateurs). Website: http://www.raynet-uk.net/
• Provide emergency communications.
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3.4 HEALTH RISKS Any risks to the public from infections arising from floods are very rare in the UK. Although floodwater may be contaminated with sewage, animal and other waste, any harmful micro-organisms in the water are usually very diluted and so present a very low risk of infection.
The risks mainly arise when floodwater gets into the mouth and gut. Taking basic hygiene precautions such as washing hands frequently and wearing protective clothing (rubber gloves and Wellington boots) when in areas that have been in contact with floodwater should be enough to avoid any health problems as a result of floodwater.
For people who have been in contact with floodwater there is no need for, or benefit from, immunisations against any infectious diseases or antibiotic treatment.
General health advice on protecting against infection following flooding is:
• Floodwater and sewage often leaves a muddy deposit. However, experience from previous flooding and sewage contamination has shown that any risk to health is small. (You do not need any booster immunisations or antibiotics.)
• Health risks can be minimised by taking general hygiene precautions and by the use of protective clothing (waterproof boots and gloves) whilst cleaning up.
• Always wash your hands with soap and clean water after going to the toilet, before eating or preparing food, after being in contact with floodwater, sewage or items that have been contaminated by these, or participating in flood cleanup activities.
• Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas and wash children's hands frequently (always before meals). Wash floodwater-contaminated toys with hot water and detergent or disinfect before allowing them to be used.
• Keep any open cuts or sores clean and prevent them being exposed to floodwater. Wear waterproof plasters.
• Bacteria present in sewage and animal slurry are likely to be diluted and unlikely to cause infection, but there is some risk of gastroenteritis if floodwater is swallowed. Anyone who develops diarrhoea and/or vomiting after contact with flood water or sewage should seek medical advice.
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BLANK PAGE
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Section Four
ALLEVIATING THE CAUSES OF FLOODING
4. DEFINITIONS OF WATERCOURSES & DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
4.1. Categories of Watercourse:
All rivers, streams and ditches forming the natural drainage system fall into one of two categories. They are: Main River and Ordinary Watercourse. Responsibility for overseeing the categories of watercourses is split between two tiers of “operating authority” – the first tier being the Environment Agency and second tier being the district councils. Oxford City Council and Vale of White Horse District Council is the second tier operating authorities for their respective areas. The category of a watercourse indicates which tier of operating authority will normally take responsibility for overseeing the maintenance of that watercourse.
4.2. Main Rivers:
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has decided which watercourses are the most important in the drainage of the Thames region and declared them “Main River”. There are numerous Main Rivers in the Oxford area, with the River Thames and River Cherwell being the largest. There are also a number of other tributaries, which are also classified as Main River. DEFRA maintains a map that shows all watercourses that have been classified as Main River, and a copy of the map for the Oxford District can be viewed at the City Council Planning Office, St Ebbe’s Street – for the Vale District at the Council Offices, Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon. The Environment Agency has permissive powers for entry, inspection and maintenance of Main River. However, this does not include a duty to carry out maintenance itself.
4.3. Ordinary Watercourses:
All watercourses that have not been designated as Main River by DEFRA are classified as Ordinary Watercourses. Oxford City Council and Vale of White Horse District Council is the second tier operating authorities for their respective areas for Ordinary Watercourses within the City boundary and areas within this plan.
4.4. Riparian Watercourses:
The ownership of a watercourse is normally determined by riparian custom. The custom is that the extent of a landholding adjacent to natural watercourses is presumed to include the adjoining bank and the bed as far as the centre of the watercourse. The landowner has a customary responsibility for maintaining the bed and bank, which form part of the
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property. This custom applies equally to the main Thames river channel as well as minor watercourses. The custom of right of ownership is one of a number of riparian rights and responsibilities acquired by a landowner. More information about these can be found in the Environment Agency’s booklet “Living on the Edge” which is available from the Environment Agency national customer contact centre on 08708 506 506 and website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk), or by writing to: Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8DB.
4.5. Public Sewers:
There are two separate public sewer systems. They are the surface water sewer system and the foul sewer system. In some exceptional cases these systems could also be combined.
Thames Water Utilities Ltd has a duty to maintain both foul and surface water sewers that have been vested in them as a statutory undertaker, and are therefore considered to be public sewers.
The public currently have a right to have their property connected to a public sewer but the government is reviewing this. There is no similar right to connect to a private drain or sewer.
Thames Water keeps a map of sewers vested as public sewers, a copy of which is on deposit with the City Council’s Ramsay House office, at 10 St Ebbe’s Street, Oxford. The map is open to public inspection by appointment. Drains within a property curtilage are normally private drains. Neither District Councils nor Thames Water Utilities Ltd keep maps of private drains.
4.6. Public Surface Water Sewers:
The public foul system is a network of pipes beneath the streets of Oxford, which convey rainwater from the roofs, courtyards, driveway and public roads into the local rivers and watercourses.
4.7. Public Foul Sewers:
The public foul sewerage system is a completely separate system that runs alongside the public surface water sewer system and is provided solely for domestic sewage purposes. The discharge of trade or industrial effluent is only permitted by licence.
4.8. Highway Drains:
A Highway Drain can be a conduit or ditch (artificial or natural) which takes off or conveys the surface water from a highway maintainable at the public expense. The County Council is the Highway Authority within Oxfordshire including the Oxford City area. There is an agreement with the City Council under which maintenance of all side roads has been delegated to
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the City Council. The County Council continues to maintain the principal and classified roads in the City of Oxford.
4.9. Public Water Supply:
Water is supplied by Thames Water Utilities to its customers by a network of water mains, which are generally located beneath the public roads and footways. Thames Water is responsible for maintaining the water mains vested in it as statutory water undertaker. It is not responsible for service connections between the mains and individual dwellings and business. These are deemed to be in the ownership of the property owner.
4.10. Private Drains:
Rainwater shed from roofs and paved areas within the curtilage of private property is normally conveyed to the public surface water system by private surface water drains. Private drains are the responsibility of the property owner. The extent of private responsibility often extends out into the public highway, up to where the drain connects the public sewer.
4.11. Oxford Canal:
The Oxford Canal is part of the national network of inland waterways, which are the responsibility of British Waterways. Its purpose is for the navigation of narrow boats, the majority of which are leisure craft, and does not form part of the natural drainage of the area.
4.12. Sustainable Drainage:
Roofs and paved areas on new development normally reduces the amount of water that can infiltrate into the ground and so increase surface water run-off into the local drains. Sustainable urban drainage systems [SUDS] control water run-off by providing temporary storage for some of the water within the development site or discharging directly to the water table below using soakways. The City Council’s planning policies specifically require developers to demonstrate that they have made appropriate provision for surface water drainage that will mitigate any adverse impact from surface run-off.
4.13. Flood Resilience of Buildings:
A building is said to be resilient when it is constructed in such a way that although floodwater may enter the building no permanent damage is caused to the structure and drying and cleaning are facilitated.
4.14. Flood Resistance of Buildings:
A building is said to be flood resistant when it has been constructed in such a way to prevent floodwater entering the building. The National Flood Forum can provide independent advice about flood resistance and flood resilience.
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5. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAINTENANCE
5.1. Riparian Landowners:
Primary responsibility for maintaining the state of and the flow in watercourses rests with the owner of the land on which it is located. This is a common-law riparian duty upon the landowner. Ownership is normally determined by custom, which is explained in Section 4.5. The duty includes preventing the accumulation of matter that obstructs the flow of water. Some examples of matter that commonly obstructs watercourses are: thick vegetation, silt, rubbish and fallen trees.
5.2. Environment Agency:
The Environment Agency is the operating authority for all Main River watercourses. The Agency has power conferred upon it, which enables it to undertake maintenance work on watercourses classified as a Main River. It also has a role in supervising the land drainage activities of the other operating authorities and riparian landowners. Its powers are set down in the Land Drainage Acts 1991, Water Resources Act 1991, and Environment Act 1995 and other supplementary statutory legislation.
5.3. Oxford City Council:
The City Council is the operating authority for its district. It has similar powers to those conferred on the Environment Agency but only for Ordinary Watercourses. The powers conferred upon it enable the City Council to do works on Ordinary Watercourses, or use its powers to have riparian owners carry out necessary works. Its powers are set down in the Land Drainage Act 1991. The City Council can also carry out necessary works in default of riparian duties and counter-charge the owner. The City Council is responsible for clearing gullies on minor roads in the City.
The City Council is the local planning authority for Oxford. The “Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016” contains a number of policies about permitting development in the floodplain, assessing flood risk and the provision of sustainable drainage. It is recommended that the local plan document should be read to obtain precise information about these policy requirements. A copy can be viewed, free of charge, on the Oxford City website.
5.4. Vale of White Horse District Council:
The Vale of White Horse District Council is the operating authority for its district and has adopted a policy for reducing or managing the risk of flooding within its area. The Council recognises that it has permissive powers in relation to land drainage and flood defence works, but it aims to secure co-operation with riparian landowners in ensuring appropriate maintenance of watercourses takes place but will take enforcement action, when necessary, under the Land Drainage Act 1991.
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5.5. Oxfordshire County Council:
The County Council has the statutory duty for all the Public Highways within the City. However, the City Council and County Council have agreed that the City Council will maintain all side roads within its area. The County Council continues to maintain the principal and classified roads in the City.
The County Council maintains the road gullies and connecting pipe-work draining the principal roads. The pipe-work connects either to a public surface water sewer or directly to an adjacent watercourse. The County Council has similar land drainage powers to those used by the City Council, which it can use to ensure that the highways are kept clear of water.
5.6. Thames Water Utilities:
Thames Water is the company appointed by the Secretary of State as sewerage and water undertaker in the Thames Valley region. It is responsible for maintaining foul and surface water systems and also the public water supply throughout the Thames Valley region. It is an independent company but the Office of Water Service (OFWAT) monitors its regulated activities.
5.7. Network Rail:
Network Rail is a not-for-dividend company that is responsible for maintaining the entire railway infrastructure nationwide. The Thames Valley area office at Reading is responsible for maintenance of the Oxford Line between Didcot and Heyford. Local structures are managed from the Western territory headquarters at Swindon. Network Rail infrastructure occupies significant areas in the Thames floodplain, which includes a number of key river crossings. Its land drainage responsibilities are that of a riparian owner.
5.8. British Waterways:
British Waterways is a public corporation responsible for maintaining the national canal network. The South East area office in central Milton Keynes is responsible for maintaining the Oxford Canal. It includes the Isis and Wolvercote Locks and the Hythe Bridge Weir. The canal does receive some surface water via surface water drainage over which British Waterways have no control. Its land drainage responsibilities are that of a riparian owner.
6. MAP OF WATERCOURSES
6.1. The Environment Agency maintains a map of all watercourses throughout the country that have been designated Main River by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The Map of Main Rivers is a statutory map, to which DEFRA is empowered to make
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additions (or deletions), as it considers beneficial for the general good of the environment, for flood risk management and for navigation. A copy of those parts of the map showing the Main River watercourses in the Oxford area are held at the City Council offices in Ramsay House or for the Vale District at the Council Offices, Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon. They are open for inspection by members of the public by appointment.
6.2. While the Main River map is a statutory requirement, there is not an equivalent statutory requirement to maintain an Ordinary Watercourse map. Oxford City Council has identified and maintains records of those Ordinary Watercourses that it considers make a significant contribution to land drainage within its area. They are named in Section 10 and Section 11 below.
7. MAP OF SEWERS
7.1. The majority of streets in Oxford have beneath them a public surface water sewer, which is a separate system to the foul sewer. Thames Water Utilities Ltd is responsible for maintaining both foul and surface water sewers. Thames Water has an obligation to maintain a map of public sewers, a copy of which is on deposit with the City Council’s Ramsay House office at 10 St Ebbe’s Street, Oxford – for the Vale District at the Council Offices, Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon. The map of public sewers is open to public inspection by appointment. The City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and Thames Water Utilities Ltd do not keep maps of private sewers or drains.
7.2. There is no public record of the whereabouts of private drains. Information of this nature would have been available at the time of construction from the developer, architect or builder of the property and may still be available for newer property. Drainage details are occasionally found on the original property deeds. With older properties, it becomes more difficult to obtain such information directly. In these situations, the only reliable way of finding the location of private drains is to carry out a physical survey, in the first instance by lifting access covers and recording the direction of the pipe-work in and out of access chambers.
8. MAINTENANCE PRIORITIES
8.1. Oxford City Council has set a budget for the clearance of Ordinary Watercourse, which is reviewed annually. There are a number of competing demands upon the budget, which are prioritised thus:
• First priority is given to urgent clearances where the watercourse is blocked or is likely to become blocked if left
• Second priority is given to “Ordinary Watercourses” where the City Council has a riparian duty as the landowner
• Third priority is given to any other Ordinary Watercourse that does not fall into the above priorities.
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8.2. Oxford City Council has an agency agreement with the County Council for maintaining the side-roads within its district. The agreement includes maintaining roadside gullies and the connecting pipe-work up to where it joins the local public sewer. All side-road gully gratings and the gully traps below them are cleared annually. The clearing is scheduled to take place on a continuous cycle throughout the year. Those gullies in areas that are known to flood are given priority.
8.3. Pipe-work connecting a gully to the public sewer is not cleaned as a matter of course. Drains, whether a highway drain or public sewer, are laid in accordance with design principles which aim to ensure that they are self cleaning. However, matter that is carried into the system and cannot be anticipated, occasionally blocks them. The City Council operates a reactive cleaning service to deal with these occurrences.
8.4. Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for maintaining the principal roads and all road bridges throughout the City. This includes the gullies in the principal roads as well as culverts under public highways. Gully gratings and the traps below the gratings are cleared annually. Bridges and flood relief culverts are inspected annually and those that require clearing are given priority.
8.5. Network Rail’s Thames Valley office at Reading is responsible for maintaining the railway infrastructure between Didcot and Heyford, which includes clearance of ditches and small diameter pipes.
8.6. Network Rail’s Western territory headquarters at Swindon is responsible for maintaining larger diameter pipes, embankments and bridge structures between Didcot and Heyford. Network Rail currently uses contractors to carry out this work.
8.7. Vale of White Horse District Council has an arranged programme to inspect the state of flood defences (whether or not owned by the Council) on all Ordinary Watercourses and on all Critical Ordinary Watercourses, structures and related culverts. This programme is based upon the degree of risk from each watercourse.
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9. MAIN RIVER
9.1. The Environment Agency has a duty to exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to Flood Risk Management. Certain watercourses within the Oxford area have been designated as Main River. The Environment Agency has permissive powers to undertake general maintenance and make improvements on Main River watercourses. As well as the River Thames and the River Cherwell rivers, the Botley Stream, Hinksey Stream, Bullstake Stream, Seacourt Stream, Osney Ditch, Castle Mill Stream, Peasmore Brook, Marston Stream, Hogacre Ditch (part), Bayswater Brook and Eastwyke Ditch in the Oxford area are all designated Main River watercourses.
9.2. Bayswater Brook is a natural earth channel 14km long. The 5km long middle section forms the Barton and Sandhills Ward boundary with South Oxfordshire. It connects to the Cherwell north of the Northern by-pass road.
9.3. Botley Stream lies to the north of Botley Road. It is a 0.8km-long natural earth channel cross connecting Seacourt Stream with Bullstake Stream.
9.4. Boundary Brook comprises 3km of earth channel, 0.3km of culvert and 1km of concrete lined channel. There are two large silt traps along its length, which are the responsibility of Thames Water Utilities Ltd. One is located at Cowley Marsh Driftway and the second is adjacent to Iffley Road.
9.5. Bullstake Stream is a natural earth channel 2.5km long. It begins north of Botley Road at a confluence with the River Thames and reconnects with the Thames at a confluence south of Botley Road.
9.6. Castle Mill Stream is a 5.5km long channel running through the City centre. It begins at the Binsey Boat Yard and re-connects to the Thames south of Oxpens Road Bridge.
9.7. Eastwyke Ditch is an earth channel 3.2km long. It begins at a confluence with Hinksey Stream and runs east to connect to the Thames east of Abingdon Road.
9.8. Hinksey Drain comprises 1.04km of earth channel in the Thames floodplain. It begins north of Abingdon Road where it splits with the Hinksey Stream along the western boundary of the main Birmingham-London railway line. It rejoins the Hinksey Stream to the rear of the properties in Kennington Road, Kennington via a bridge culvert under the railway.
9.9. Hinksey Stream lies to the south of Botley Road and is a 4.2km long natural earth channel. Beginning at a confluence with Seacourt
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Stream it runs south and reconnects with the Thames at a confluence south of the southern bypass road.
9.10. Hogacre Ditch (west section) is an earth channel 1.9km long, south of Botley Road. It begins at a confluence with Bullstake Stream running south and connecting to Hinksey Stream.
9.11. Holywell Stream comprises 1km of open channel in the Cherwell floodplain. It begins at a confluence with the Cherwell in University Parks and rejoins the Cherwell at Magdalen Bridge.
9.12. Littlemore Brook comprises 1.6km of a natural earth channel within the City boundary, commencing south of Kestrel Crescent, and running into South Oxfordshire District, west of Oxford Science Park.
9.13. Marston Brook is a natural earth channel 2.9km long. It drains the Old Marston area and connects to the Cherwell east of Norham Gardens.
9.14. Northfield Brook comprises 2.2km of re-graded earth channel within the City boundary. It begins within South Oxfordshire’s District and joins Littlemore Brook north of the Kassam Stadium.
9.15. Osney Ditch is an earth channel 1.7km long. It begins at the confluence with Bullstake Stream near to Binsey Lane Bridge and connects to the Thames at the Osney Lock.
9.16. Peasmore Brook is a natural earth channel 2km long. It drains the New Marston area and connects to the Cherwell east of St Cross Road.
9.17. Redbridge Stream comprises 0.7km of earth channel in the Thames floodplain. It begins at a confluence with Hinksey Stream north of the old Abingdon Road and rejoins Hinksey Stream adjacent to Abingdon Road Bridge.
9.18. Seacourt Stream (or Wytham Stream) is a natural earth channel 12.7km long. It begins north of Wytham Village and connects to Bullstake Stream at a confluence near to North Hinksey Lane.
9.19. Wareham Stream comprises 0.5km of open channel in the City centre. It begins at a weir in Upper Fisher Row and rejoins Castle Mill Stream near to Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.
9.20. Weirs Mill Stream comprises an earth channel 2.1km long. It leaves the main Thames channel by Long Bridges and rejoins the Thames at a confluence south of the southern bypass.
9.21. Figure One is a map showing the location of the Main Rivers in and around Oxford and an indicative outline of the flood zones.
9.22. The common-law responsibilities of riparian landowners still remain on Main Rivers, under which the owner has a duty for maintaining
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watercourses irrespective of its designation. The Environment Agency produces the booklet “Living on the Edge” which is a guide to the rights and responsibilities of a riverside owner and is available from the Environment Agency national customer contact centre on 08708 506 506 and website (environment-agency.gov.uk).
9.23. The Environment Agency operational teams carry out routine planned and reactive unplanned maintenance work on Main Rivers. The Environment Agency consults with riparian owners and other parties with a direct interest in the planned work. The work includes vegetation clearance and silt removal to provide an effective watercourse whilst maintaining the natural biodiversity.
9.24. There are three pound-locks on the Thames in the City Council’s area. They are the Godstow, Osney and Iffley Locks and are vested in and operated by the Environment Agency.
9.25. At times of high flow the Agency’s operational role switches from that of routine maintenance to damage limitation. Operational priorities are to check, operate and carry out running repairs to Environment Agency-owned water level control structures, pumping stations, flood storage and diversion works, flood-stressed defences and trash screens, and to clear debris and obstructions where possible and advise other riparian owners as to their maintenance responsibilities. The operational role also includes the monitoring of water levels, telemetry, weather and rainfall forecasts and keeping professional partners informed.
9.26. The Environment Agency manages Main River watercourses in the Oxford area from the West Area Office, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BD.
10. ORDINARY WATERCOURSES
10.1. Responsibility for the general upkeep of a watercourse rests with the owner as with any private land. If a watercourse is allowed to deteriorate to a condition where it can be considered a risk to health, the District Council can intervene using powers under the Public Health Act 1936.
10.2. All watercourses not designated Main River are by default classified Ordinary Watercourses. The District Councils are the designated Operating Authority for Ordinary Watercourses for their respective areas, and are able to exercise the permissive powers contained in the Land Drainage Act 1991. The principal powers enable them to serve notice on landowners who fail to fulfil their responsibilities and carry out works on Ordinary Watercourses for the benefit of the community.
10.3. Oxford City Council will inspect those Ordinary Watercourses that it has a record of from time to time, but not less than every three years. If works are considered necessary, then in the first instance the City Council
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will advise the landowner accordingly and request the owner to carry out necessary works to maintain normal flows.
10.4. Oxford City Council and Vale of White Horse District Council will, upon request, carry out inspection of any Ordinary Watercourses within its area and advise landowners of their responsibilities. It will, if necessary, take appropriate enforcement action to maintain flows.
10.5. Where landowners ignore requests that they carry out necessary drainage works, the respective Operating Authority will serve notice on the owners and carry out the works itself. The Operating Authority will seek to recover the cost of the works from the owners.
10.6. If establishing ownership of a watercourse cannot be achieved, the Operating Authority will carry out necessary works to maintain flows until such time as ownership is confirmed. Upon confirmation the Operating Authority will seek to recover the cost of the works from the owners.
10.7. Where drainage work is of benefit to the community as well as the landowner, the City Council will consider contributing to the cost or with the consent of the landowner undertake to do the works. The Council will clear the bed and banks of these watercourses of any obstructions recorded during the inspection in order to maintain the capacity of the watercourse.
It includes:
• Removal of accumulations of silt from the bed of the stream • Cutting down and removal of trees rooted in the stream bed • Pollarding of low tree limbs that overhang the channel and may
interfere with flood flows • Removal of fallen trees that obstruct the channel • Cutting back heavy vegetation on banks • Reduction of reed beds to maintain a metre width of clear
channel • Removal of any natural accumulation or large abandoned
objects within the channel that could obstruct flood flows. It does not include:
• Litter picking • Cutting grassed banks or annual weeds • Raking leaves and small branches • Reinstatement of eroded banks.
10.8. There are a number of watercourses that Oxford City Council undertakes drainage works on, as and when it deems it necessary. They are Hogacre Ditch (East section), Port Meadow, Wolvercote Common, Moor Ditch, Shirelake Ditch, Goose Green and Lye Stream.
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11. OXFORD CANAL
11.1. The Oxford Canal is partially river navigation. However, the river section terminates at Shipton Lock north of Thrupp. From this point southwards the canal is an artificial channel with no direct feeders, although the canal may accept surface water drainage over which British Waterways has no control. The canal level is maintained via bypass weirs at the upstream lock, so in the case of the section in question the canal will be fed via lockage and bypass flow at Duke’s Cut Lock. In the event of high flows, British Waterways will close the floodgate at Thrupp – this effectively impounds the canal and water is passed via sluices back into the river.
11.2. Duke’s Lock is located 0.3km north of the Wolvercote Roundabout to Witney Road (A40);
11.3. Duke’s Cut Lock is located on the eastern end of Duke’s Cut just south of Duke’s Lock;
11.4. Wovercote Lock is located just north of Godstow Road;
11.5. Waste Weir is located 0.8km north of Hythe Bridge Street near to the Isis Lock;
11.6. Isis Lock is located 0.7km north of Hythe Bridge Street and connects the canal to the River Thames;
11.7. Weir 34 is located just north of Hythe Bridge Street.
12. CULVERTED WATERCOURSE
12.1. There are a number of watercourses in the City that have been fully culverted or culverted for part of their length. Some have been declared public surface water sewers and maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd. Those not maintained by Thames Water are the responsibility of the owner of the land under which it runs. The significant culverts in the City are:
12.2. Trill Mill Culvert is 1.2km long and runs through the City centre. It connects to Castle Mill Stream near to the Oxford & Cherwell Valley College and re-emerges as an open watercourse in the grounds of Christ Church Gardens, before joining the Thames downstream of Folly Bridge. Flow into the culvert is controlled by a sluice gate at the head of the culvert, near to the College. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.3. Boundary Brook is culverted for a length of 0.5km. The culvert begins in Marsh Road and re-emerges west of Cowley Road. A grill that is inspected monthly and cleared as necessary protects the inlet mouth. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.4. Peasmore Brook is culverted for a length of 1km. The culvert begins in Court Place Farm Recreation Ground and re-emerges south of
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Cherwell Drive. The inlet mouth is protected by a grill, which is inspected monthly during the autumn and winter and cleared as necessary. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.5. Marston Stream is culverted for a length of 0.5km. The culvert begins north of Cherwell Drive and re-emerges near to Arlington Drive. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.6. Westlands Drive Culvert is 1.1km long, beginning off Saxon Way and re-emerging north of the northern bypass. The inlet mouth is protected by a grill, which is inspected monthly during the autumn and winter and cleared as necessary. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.7. Old Road Culvert is 0.6km long, commencing at the bottom of Highfield Road and re-emerges south of Old Road, near to Mileway Gardens. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.8. Oxford Business Park Culvert is 1.6km long. It begins near to the Chiltern Business Park and re-emerges in the Kestrel Crescent Allotments. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.9. Cowley Works Culvert is 3.2km long. It commences north of Horspath Road Industrial Estate and re-emerges south of Garsington Road. The inlet mouth is protected by a grill, which is inspected monthly during the autumn and winter and cleared as necessary. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.10. Pegasus Road Culvert is 1km long. It begins in Blackbird Leys Park and re-emerges in Spindleberry Nature Reserve. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.11. Little Bury Culvert is 2.8km long. It begins in the Cowley Works Site and re-emerges at a confluence with Northfield Brook close to Grenoble Road. It is maintained by Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
12.12. Hogacre Ditch (east) is culverted for a length of 0.4km. It begins in Grandpont Park and re-emerges at the back of Western Road. A grill that is inspected monthly during the autumn and winter and cleared as necessary protects the inlet mouth. The duty for maintenance lies with the riparian landowners.
13. PUBLIC SURFACE WATER SEWERS
13.1. Surface Water Sewers are an integral part of the drainage system in the City. They convey rainfall from private drains to the nearest river or watercourse. Surface water sewers that have been vested in Thames Water Utilities Ltd are considered public sewers and responsibility for their maintenance rests with Thames Water Utilities Ltd.
13.2. Drains and sewers are normally laid at gradients calculated to ensure that the water they carry flows at a velocity sufficed to prevent silt
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deposits from accumulating in the pipe invert. This maintains the efficiency of the system and avoids the need for expensive regular cleaning. Occasionally sewers become blocked by debris that is washed into the system through gullies and inlets. These events are random in nature and can occur anywhere in the system. Thames Water operates an emergency callout service for this type of occurrence.
13.3. Where large diameter public surface water sewers discharge to open watercourses, a steel grill is secured over the outfall to prevent access to unauthorised persons. While the grills are important for public safety, they can become choked if not cleared from time to time. Thames Water maintains a schedule of outfalls to public surface water sewers, which are checked annually and cleared as necessary.
13.4. New connections to the public sewer require the consent of Thames Water Utilities. An application form for making a reconnection can be obtained from Thames Water Ltd together with details of the fees payable upon submitting an application. Call 0845 9200 888 (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm) to enquire about making an application or any other questions relating to your building work.
14. HIGHWAY DRAINS AND GULLIES
14.1. The City Council is responsible for maintaining non-principal roads in the City under Section 42 of the Highways Act 1980. This responsibility includes the cleaning of road gullies and associated pipe-work connecting it to the public sewer or a watercourse. Side-road gullies are scheduled for annual cleaning. Clearing road gullies is a year round operation. The street gullies in West and South Oxford will be cleared in autumn of each year, prior to the flooding season. The City also maintains a list of gullies that are known to cause local flooding if they become blocked. These gullies are visited more frequently to minimise the possibility of blockages occurring.
14.2. The side roads that lie within the floodplain in the Central, South and West areas require the clearance of parked vehicles from time to time to ensure that all gullies are cleared. Residents are notified by leaflet when this will occur. Ensuring that all gullies are cleared requires the co-operation of all vehicle owners who park on-street.
14.3. There are a number of surface water sewers in the City, which are classified as “highway drains”. The City Council is responsible for maintaining all highway drains that serve non-principal roads. Highway drainage systems are designed to be self-cleansing. Occasionally they become blocked when extraneous matter washes into the system. The City Council operates a 24-hour sewer cleansing service to deal with random occurrence of blocked drains. The City Council emergency telephone number is 01865 249411.
15. SAFETY GRILLS, HEADWALLS AND OTHER ANCILLARIES
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15.1. Grills are generally provided at the inlet and outlet of conduits and culverted watercourses where it is considered that there is a danger to children becoming trapped. These grills can become blocked by debris settling across the grill bars. This can lead to flooding of land upstream and downstream of the grill and cause the temporary closure of the adjacent highway. Some grills are prone to blockage due to their location. In locations where the resulting flooding has shown to cause disruption to road transport or threaten buildings, the operating authority inspects the grills annually.
15.2. Headwalls are supporting structures to sewers, drains and pipelines and are located where these conduits discharge into the watercourse. The headwall normally belongs to the owner of the conduit to which it is attached but this may not necessarily be the owner of the land upon which it is located. The owner of the conduit is responsible for maintaining the headwall.
15.3. There are two silt traps on Boundary Brook, which are owned by Thames Water Ltd. Their purpose is to collect silt that is carried down in the stream from higher ground. They are located to make emptying convenient and are emptied biannually. The traps have horizontal grills protecting the water filled pit below them. The grills are inspected monthly to ensure public safety.
16. HIGHWAY BRIDGES, UNDER PASSES AND FLOOD RELIEF CULVERTS
16.1. The County Council is responsible for the structural condition of all road bridges, underpasses, flood arches and culverted watercourses within the highway boundaries. The County Council carries out maintenance of these structures. Each bridge is inspected annually to assess its structural condition. The state of the water channel is also noted and cleared as necessary.
16.2. The City Council has agreed with the County Council that the City will maintain culverted watercourses under side-roads, unless adopted by Thames Water as public sewer.
16.3. The County Council maintains all pedestrian underpasses within Oxford City boundaries. Underpasses are normally lower than the surrounding land and they usually require a pumped drainage system to keep them dry in wet weather. The County Council maintains the pumps.
17. RAILWAY BRIDGES AND FLOOD RELIEF CULVERTS
17.1. Network Rail is responsible for the condition of all structures that are owned by the company and pass over or under the railway. The company carries out regular inspections of the structures – a visual inspection each year and a detailed inspection every six years. Maintenance is carried out as instructed by the structures engineer and by suitably qualified contractors. Inspections are also carried out on a weekly
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and two-monthly basis of the ditches and watercourses by track inspectors who report any work that is required to maintain them.
17.2. Network Rail keeps a database of the infrastructure it maintains. The location of each bridge river crossing and culvert is recorded in the database by the type of structure and its distance from a reference point in London (Chainage reference numbers are given in miles and yards). Some of the more significant watercourse crossings are named. Most of the names are similar to those in common use in Oxford. The significant Network Rail structures in the City are:
17.3. Munday’s Waterway is located 0.3km south of the (A423) Southern bypass road (Network Rail Chainage reference 61miles/0506yards).
17.4. Stroud’s (Stream) is located south of the Abingdon Road Bridge (Network Rail Chainage reference 61miles/1078yards).
17.5. Barlow’s Rails Culvert is located just north of the Abingdon Road Bridge (Network Rail Chainage reference 61miles/1166yards).
17.6. Towle’s Stream and Hinksey Stream Crossings are located 0.3km north of Abingdon Road Bridge (Network Rail Chainage reference 61miles/1518yards and 61miles/1562yards, respectively).
17.7. Eastwyke Ditch Crossing is located 0.1km north of Hinksey Lake (Network Rail Chainage reference 62mlies/0979yards).
17.8. River Isis Crossing is located 0.6km south of Botley Road (Network Rail Chainage reference 62miles/1738yards).
17.9. Electric pumps drain the road beneath Botley Road Bridge (Network Rail Chainage reference 63miles/0682yards).
17.10. Sheepwash Stream Crossing (or Rewley Stream) is located just north of Oxford Station (Network Rail Chainage reference 63miles/1056yards).
17.11. Castle Mill Stream Crossing is located just south of Walton Well Road (Network Rail Chainage reference 64miles/0110yards).
17.12. Cowley Branch Line Crossing over the River Thames is located next to the Hinksey Stream confluence.
18. PUMPING STATIONS
18.1. Pumping stations operated by Thames Water Utilities Ltd are critical for transporting water and wastewater to and from treatment works. All wastewater is pumped to the Sandford Sewage Works where it is cleaned and returned to Littlemore Brook. Each pumping station is linked to a Thames Water Control Centre that monitors performance. In the event
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of plant or pump failure a team that is on standby 24 hours a day is called and dispatched. Routine maintenance, periodic site visits and mandatory plant tests are undertaken to reduce the risk of pumping station failures.
18.2. Thames Water also operates a small flood relief pumping station on Osney Island. The station is checked on a six-monthly cycle. There is no alarm system or telemetry connected to this station.
18.3. Oxfordshire County Council operates a small surface pumping station on the Watlington Road adjacent to the Cowley Branch Railway line. The road level has been lowered in order to provide headroom for high-sided vehicles. It is necessary to pump rainwater out of the dip to the nearby public sewer.
18.4. Oxfordshire County Council maintains the Oxford Road underpass in Headington and similar underpasses located under principal roads in the City. Where they require pumped drainage to keep them dry the pumps are maintained by the County Council.
18.5. Oxford City Council operates the permanent flood relief pumping station in Earl Street. The station was installed in 2003, in response to the flooding experienced in 2000 and 2003.
18.6. The road below the Botley Road Railway Bridge is drained by a pumping station, which is maintained by Network Rail. The local Network Rail depot at Didcot is responsible for the maintenance of the pumps. The pumps are inspected and maintained on a regular basis and a 24-hour call out facility is available for faults if required.
19. CULVERTING OR ALTERATIONS ON OPEN WATERCOURSES
19.1. Culverting a watercourse or construction of any other weir-like structure in an Ordinary Watercourse requires the prior written approval of the local authority under the Public Health Act 1936, and the prior written consent of the Environment Agency under the terms of the Land Drainage Act 1991/Water Resources Act 1991. The Agency seeks to avoid culverting, and its consent for such works will normally be withheld.
19.2. The Environment Agency has primary responsibility for Main River under the terms of the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Land Drainage Bylaws 1981. Prior written consent of the Environment Agency is required for any proposed works or structures in, over or within eight metres of the brink of the bank.
19.3. The riparian owner of the land over a culvert will generally own the fabric of the culvert and the rights and duties of a riparian owner continue to apply in relation to the culvert. While operating authorities have powers open to them to remedy certain problems that might arise with private culverts, the duty to maintain it rests with the owner and not the Land Drainage Authority.
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19.4. Where culverting has taken place without consent and the culvert is of a size or construction that is detrimental to the drainage of the area the relevant operating authority will consider using the powers open to it to remedy the situation.
20. FLOOD DEFENCES
20.1. Flood Defence structures and raised defences include sluice gates, bund walls and weirs. Ownership of the defence is usually with the private, riparian owner who is responsible for operation and maintenance. These include most of the millraces. The Environment Agency owns and operates some defences including Thames Weirs (Godstow, Osney, Iffley, Sandford etc) and Castle Mill Weir. Where it does not own the defence, it has powers to regulate the operation and maintenance by the riparian owner. Sometimes, the Environment Agency will maintain the defence or structure that it does not own, with agreement from the riparian owner, as an effective way to reduce the risk of flooding.
20.2. There are a number of old disused watermill sites around Oxford and some of the millraces and side weirs still exist. Notable ones are at Wolvercote Mill, Towles Mill and Osney Mill. These remain the property of the respective owners of the mill site.
21. REVIEW OF THIS DOCUMENT
21.1. This document will be reviewed by the partners annually.
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Section Five
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION A range of factsheets and advice guides about flooding is available from the partner organisations listed below:
22. PARTNER ORGANISATION PUBLICATION LIST
22.1. Environment Agency
The Environment Agency has produced a range of guides, information and advice about protecting homes and businesses from flooding. These are available from the customer contact centre (08708 506506), the Floodline (0845 988 1188) or the website:
• Website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
• Living on the Edge: A guide to the rights and responsibilities of a riverside owner.
• Preparing for a Flood: Practical advice on what to do to protect you and your property.
• During a Flood: Practical advice on what to do to stay safe in a flood.
• After a Flood: Practical advice on recovering from a flood.
• Flood Products: Using Flood Protection Products – a guide for homeowners.
• Flooding: Be Prepared – a guide for older people.
• Oxfordshire Flood Directory – useful phone numbers for Oxfordshire.
• Preparing a Business Flood Plan – a guide for local businesses in the floodplain (on CD available from Red Kite House or more in-depth information on the Environment Agency’s website).
• Caravans and Flood Risk – advice for caravan and camping park owners.
• Preparing for Flooding – a Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions DTLR guide.
• Managing Flood Risks in Parishes: A Best Practice Guide. Produced by The Hampshire Flood Steering Group.
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• After a Flood Factsheet: A quick reference guide to help you if you have just been flooded.
22.2. Oxfordshire County Council
• Website: http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/
• Floods Protect Yourself – guidance booklet to help overcome flooding.
• Flood Warning and Flood Risk Information – leaflet.
• Flooding and Historic Buildings – an English Heritage technical advice note.
• Rights and Responsibilities on Drainage – Fact Sheet 34.
22.3. Oxford City Council
• Website: http://www.oxford.gov.uk
• Flood Advice and Contacts – leaflet.
22.4. Vale Of White Horse District Council Publications
• Website: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/
22.5. Thames Water Utilities
• Website: http://www.thameswateruk.co.uk
• Wastewater Flooding Causes and Alleviation.
• Wastewater Flooding Guidance – a guide for household customers.
• Application for a New Connection to a Public Sewer –guidance notes about applying for a new connection.
22.6. Network Rail
• Website: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/
22.7. Communities and Local Government
• Website: http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/
• How to Make Your Home Flood-Resistant.
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22.8. Cabinet Office Civil Contingency Secretariat
• Website: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
• Webpage: http://www.ukresiliance.info/flooding.htm
22.9. National Flood Forum
• Website: http://www.floodforum.org.uk/
22.10. Health Protection Agency
• Website: http://www.hpa.org.uk/
• Cleaning up after a flood#58; health advice.
• Checklist for flooding incidents.
• Health advice following flooding.
• Health Protection Agency issues carbon monoxide advice.
• Health advice following floods#58; chemical and environmental hazards.
• Health advice regarding flood water in the Thames Valley.
• Public health advice#58; water consumption.
22.11. Flood Protection Association
• Website: http://www.floodprotectionassociation.org/
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