Preparing for the flood
With flood warnings still affecting large swathes of the country, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management is calling for a long-term, co-ordinated approach to the planning, building and maintaining of flood protection.
In its new policy position statement, entitled Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, the institution calls for the strengthening of existing partnerships and for an adaptive and flexible approach to flood and coastal management. It wants wider recognition of the importance of spending on actions such as emergency planning and response, forecasting and warning services, and flood and coastal erosion risk mapping, modelling and risk assessment.
CIWEM interim chief executive Nigel Hendley said: “The maintenance of flood and coastal infrastructure needs to be given greater recognition by the government in order to prolong the life of existing flood and coastal management infrastructure. Investment is essential; the Environment Agency states that just to maintain current standards of flood protection in England alone, we need to spend over £1bn per year by 2035. Maintenance activities provide greater returns on investment than new schemes, at £10 for every £1 spent.”
The institution also asserts that new funding routes need to be identified, and that the process for identifying and attracting external funds should be simplified.
Nigel continued: “The present contribution of partnership funding from private sources is small, and further incentives are needed to encourage the private sector to contribute. Support is also needed for local communities to help them build up their own community resilience.
“If we do not manage the risks of flooding and coastal erosion in a sustainable way, there will be continued loss of life and property, extensive damage to the UK economy and ongoing misery for millions of people.
“At the same time, it is crucial that we educate everyone about the impacts of climate change and manage their expectations as to what can be achieved. Many people believe that flooding can be prevented entirely, and that coastal erosion can be stopped; this is not realistic. CIWEM’s new policy statement aims to raise awareness of these issues.”