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| Association of Drainage Authorities | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association of Drainage Authorities |
| Type | Membership organization |
| Established | 1930s |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Region served | England and Wales |
Association of Drainage Authorities
The Association of Drainage Authorities is a British membership organisation representing water level management bodies across England and Wales. It engages with stakeholders such as Environment Agency, Natural England, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Local Government Association and National Farmers' Union to coordinate flood risk management, land drainage, and watercourse maintenance. The association liaises with statutory bodies including Highways England, Historic England, Crown Estate and Canals and Rivers Trust to align operational practice with national policy and infrastructure planning.
Founded in the early 20th century amid growing concern about coastal flooding and agricultural productivity, the association emerged alongside institutions like the River Conservancy Acts era and the post‑war expansion of public works such as Land Drainage Act 1930. It developed in parallel with the creation of the National Rivers Authority and later the Environment Agency, adapting to regulatory shifts from landmark statutes like the Water Resources Act 1991. Throughout the late 20th century the association responded to European frameworks exemplified by the Water Framework Directive and interacted with domestic reviews such as the Pitt Review (2008) following major flood events.
The association provides technical guidance, standards, and best practice for internal drainage boards, internal drainage districts, and other operating bodies including Internal Drainage Board entities and catchment partnerships. It delivers training linked to qualifications recognised by institutions such as the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and collaborates with research bodies including Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology on hydrological modelling and sediment transport. It advises on capital works, maintenance programmes, and emergency response coordination with organisations like Local Resilience Forums and Met Office flood forecasting services.
Membership comprises internal drainage boards, river boards, conservancy boards, drainage commissioners, and water level management groups across counties such as Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Somerset. Affiliate members include consultancies, contractors, and academic partners such as Cranfield University, University of Exeter, Imperial College London, and University of Leeds. The association organises regional committees and working groups mirroring historic boundaries like Humber Estuary and Severn Estuary catchments, and collaborates with multinational firms active in UK infrastructure like Balfour Beatty and Mott MacDonald.
Governance is typically overseen by an executive board drawn from member organisations and chaired by elected representatives from bodies such as prominent Internal Drainage Boards in East Anglia and the Thames Estuary. Financial support derives from membership subscriptions, project grants from public funders such as DEFRA and contract income sourced through partnerships with agencies like the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. The association adheres to audit and transparency practices similar to those of the National Audit Office and aligns its corporate governance with standards promoted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
The association represents members in consultations with central institutions including Parliament of the United Kingdom, House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and devolved administrations such as Welsh Government. It lobbies on legislative instruments like the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the Environment Act 2021, and EU‑derived measures such as the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive where relevant to water level management. Collaborative advocacy includes joint statements with stakeholders such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Flood Re, and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust on nature‑based solutions and habitat restoration.
The association has supported projects ranging from catchment scale schemes in the Fens to coastal defence partnerships on the East Riding of Yorkshire coast. Initiatives include pilot programmes for nature‑based flood management, partnerships with National Trust on wetland creation, and collaborative research with institutions like University of Cambridge on peatland restoration. It has promoted adoption of asset management systems compatible with national efforts led by Association of British Insurers and industry standards used by Infrastructure and Projects Authority sponsored programmes.
Operating within the statutory environment shaped by acts such as the Land Drainage Act 1991, the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, and secondary legislation under the Environment Act 1995, the association advises members on compliance with permits issued by the Environment Agency and licensing regimes managed by Natural England. It interacts with planning institutions like Planning Inspectorate on consenting for works affecting Sites of Special Scientific Interest designated under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and coordinates with agencies implementing European Union Water Framework Directive‑derived standards and domestic water quality regimes.
Category:Water management in England and Wales