Flooding and drainage

Section 19 flood reports

What is a Section 19 flood investigation report?

Under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Telford & Wrekin Council as the lead local flood authority (LLFA), has a duty to investigate incidents of flooding. The act states that:

• On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority must, to the extent that it considers it necessary or appropriate, investigate:
  • 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 an authority carries out an investigation under subsection 1 it must:

• publish the results of its investigation, and
• notify any relevant risk management authorities.

Below guidance is given on what Telford and Wrekin consider as a 'significant' flood event but importantly flood events which don't meet this criteria will still be investigated and addressed as council resources allow.

What is the purpose of a Section 19 (S19) report?

Following large scale flood events it can be very difficult to ascertain exactly which flood source has affected properties and therefore which Risk Management Authority (RMA) is responsible for managing this particular source. Thus a S19 report aims to identify sources of flooding and the flood mechanism and then to notify the responsible RMA of these findings.

It is essential that the resources committed to the investigation of flood events are appropriate in relation to the severity of each event, and the risk of reoccurrence. For that reason Telford & Wrekin Council will only formally investigate flood events if one of the following criteria is met:

A flood is deemed significant to Telford & Wrekin Council if it:

• causes internal flooding to 3 or more residential properties, or
• causes internal flooding to 2 or more business premises, or
• flooded one or more items of critical infrastructure, or
• caused a transport link to be totally impassable for a significant period.

A Section 19 report need not be completed if the flood source is a known cause, with a known responsible RMA even if the above criteria are met.

What is and isn't included in a S19 report?

• A S19 report will not identify solutions or mitigation options which should be implemented in order to prevent flooding in a particular location.
• A S19 report will not decide blame for a flood event.
• A S19 report will to an appropriate extent investigate the most likely causes of flooding at a particular location considering water sources and flood infrastructure.
• A S19 report will identify any flood risk management authorities who have responsibilities in relation to a flood, what actions they have taken to exercise their duties and what actions they plan to carry out in future.

How will we publish the results of Section 19 reports?

Compliance with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires that we publish the findings of any S19 report and share with other RMAs.

A list of published S19 reports can be found below once published.

Last updated: 31/03/2022 12:45