Groundwater Flood Risk Management In England.pdf

This project provides evidence of current approaches to managing groundwater flood risk across England, aiming to help risk management authorities carry out their roles and responsibilities as set out in the national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England. Groundwater flooding occurs when the groundwater table rises to levels significantly higher than normal, and the Environment Agency has a strategic overview role in managing it, while lead local flood authorities are responsible for developing and applying management strategies.

The project found that organisations are working together and sharing data, but approaches to risk assessment, recording incidents, forecasting, warning, and mitigation are not consistent across England, and there is limited access to risk information. Limited guidance on implementing groundwater flood mitigation measures and limited consideration of groundwater flood risk in spatial planning were also identified.

High-priority activities to address significant gaps include researching current governance arrangements, improving processes for recording incidents, making groundwater flood risk spatial data available, incorporating local assessments into the national flood risk assessment, and providing guidance on implementing mitigation schemes. Additional priorities include improving public information and warning services, and enabling local planning authorities to consider groundwater flooding in spatial planning.