The introduction of drainage networks in rural towns and villages, especially within new and much needed housing developments has been welcomed, but has essential and regular maintenance been overlooked? Are older, more vulnerable drainage networks being forgotten?
Indeed, the introduction of gulley pots with decontamination sump traps, channel drainage systems and kerb-drainage technologies that have met SuDS requirements and led to reduced installation costs has revolutionised drainage. However, what is the point if maintenance is ignored, leading to blockages and the resulting redundancy of the drainage network?! Gulley pots filled with silt and debris, drainage channels/grates blocked with leaf-litter, kerb-drain access holes/slots blocked with debris. If regular maintenance continues to be ignored, especially in rural towns and areas, far reaching problems are likely to be encountered.
Indeed, in comparison to major urban areas, flooding in rural areas does lead to a reduced impact to housing and major infrastructure, there may be less direct impact from contamination, overall repair costs may be less, but there are many other factors that need to be considered following rural flooding incidents, especially when they can have a detrimental impact that reaches far beyond the fields and woodlands.
Some, but no means all, of these impacts include:
Disruption to major trunk roads in rural areas with less alternative routes
According to the ‘Key Findings, Statistical Digest of Rural England’ updated by the Department for Environmental Food & Rural Affairs in September 2024, highlighted that approximately 10 million people live in rural areas with that population having an older average age which is growing at a faster rate in comparison to urban areas.
With less suitable and/or alternative transport routes and links, especially for emergency response, flooding incidents that cause disruption to these routes, have a significant detrimental impact on communities and present a higher risk to health & safety. In addition, from the same report, in 2021, people living in rural areas travelled twice as far per year than those in the most.
Road traffic incidents
From 2022 figures, the RAC Foundation highlighted that 59% of all fatalities occurred on rural roads and that approximately three people die each day on average on rural roads. It also highlighted that the number of people killed on country roads was more than 10 times higher than on motorways in 2022, with rural roads being significantly more dangerous for all road users, with many rural roads being narrow, having blind bends and brows, limited safe places to pass, reduced traffic speed management/calming measures and little to no highway lighting. With this in mind, flooding in these areas increases the risk significantly for all users.
Destruction to farmland
The accredited official statistics summary, updated and published in 2024 by the Department for Environmental Food & Rural Affairs, highlighted that in 2022, the Total Income from Farming (TIFF) in 2023 was £7.2 billion, with agriculture contributing £13.9 billion to the UK economy!
Flooding on farmland can cause many types of damage. They may include crop loss, contamination, soil erosion, equipment loss, debris deposition, irreparable damage to flora & fauna and the spread of invasive species. According to a report released by the UK’s Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit on 19th July 2024, the number of flood warnings on England’s best farmland this winter hit a record high of over 1000, exceeding the previous record by a fifth. In total, there were 1008 flood warnings on Grade 1 and 2 farmland and 3344 flood alerts in total. This compares to previous records in the winter of 2019/20 of 775 warnings and 2808 alerts. Unfortunately, Grade 1 and 2 farmland is typically low lying, and prone to flood risk, presenting a significant escalation in flooding due to climate change and an increasingly systemic risk to our food security. Indeed, the winter of 2023/24 was one of the wettest on record, and storm rainfall was made 20% heavier by climate change.
Although appropriate drainage on highways and new development land in rural areas is by no means the major contributing factor, it still presents a contributing factor. Run-off and run-off rates from these sources can significantly increase if storm water is not appropriately managed. Therefore, regular maintenance of associated drainage networks should be addressed and undertaken to avoid run-off into adjacent farmland.
Contamination of water sources & impact to water networks
Many water sources emanate in rural areas, including streams, rivers and water bodies, including water supply reservoirs, therefore impacting more than just local/rural communities.
Flooding and overflow as a result of blocked drainage systems can allow untreated runoff water to flow into clean water sources with a significant detrimental impact on biodiversity and water quality. In turn, this can result in the increased need for water treatment and associated costs.
In addition, such flooding can increase pressure on existing wastewater networks, with the capacity of the local/public sewer network becoming compromised. This puts significant pressure on local wastewater treatment facilities which in turn leads to a contamination risk and costly repairs.
Therefore, to summarise;
- Do we need to assess how drainage management in rural areas is currently being addressed?
- Would greater community focus and action to improve local awareness and encourage involvement have a sufficient impact?
- Do local Flood Action Groups need a stronger voice and increased backing. Are partnerships between communities and other bodies such as local authorities, the Environment Agency and water authorities being sufficiently encouraged?
- Should Flood Action Groups be given greater powers of enforcement?
- Flooding is a complex issue with seemingly lots of agencies and authorities each having a different role to play. Is the current situation too confusing and frustrating?
- What can be done to better fund maintenance?
