Flood investigations

Following the extensive flooding in 2007, the government enacted the Flood and Water Management Act in 2010 (FWMA 2010).  The Act sets new statutory responsibilities for managing flood risk and gives local authorities the lead role for managing local flood risk through the creation of Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) while the Environment Agency (EA) was given a strategic overview role.

As a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), one of its duties is to investigate flood incidents where it considers it necessary or appropriate and produce a report.  The investigation will: 

• determine which risk management authorities have relevant flood risk management functions, and
• whether each of those risk management authorities has exercised, or is proposing to exercise, those functions in response to the flood.

Where the authority carries out an investigation, it must publish the results of the investigation and notify any relevant risk management authorities.  The duty to investigate flood incidents is set out under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

When would we carry out a flood investigation?

Investigations are often complex, they involve a significant amount of time and resources and therefore can be costly.  However, the council will attend every reported flooding incident and then make an assessment whether to carry out a detailed investigation under the terms of FWMA.  This procedure (

) has been drafted to guide officers in their decision-making.  The Flood Investigation Protocol will remain a living document and be adjusted to lessons learnt as flood incidents occur.

Where can I find flood investigation reports?

When a flood investigation report is complete and has undergone consultation with the relevant risk management authorities, it is approved by the Chief Executive of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport and then formally published.  Published reports can be found below.  These are public documents that may be downloaded and copied for personal use but remain the copyright of Croydon Council so may not be distributed or republished without prior permission.