What is an Internal Drainage Board?

There are over 230 Drainage Districts in England and Wales, varying in size from a few hundred acres to over 100,000 acres, all in low lying areas of the country where flood prevention and land drainage are sensitive issues. Most Drainage Districts are autonomous public bodies administered by and Internal Drainage Board (IDB), which are single purpose local Drainage Authorities responsible for managing water levels in a defined district for the benefit of land users.

What does and Internal Drainage Board Do?

Board duties include:

- Levying of drainage rates and their collection

- Maintenance of drains, pumping stations and flood defences

- Environmental improvement

- Promotion of capital schemes for drainage and flood defence improvement

- Emergency response during flood

- Public relations

- Dealing with planning applications (discharge consents and flood risk easements)

- Flood records and post-flood survey

- Keeping of accounts

The Boards have powers to adopt watercourses within their Distric for regular maintenance. They do not maintain every individual drain. They also have the power to construct new or improve existing works.

Liaison is maintained with Natural England and other conservation bodies, in order that all works are completed in an environmentally sensitive manner.

In addition to the Land Drainage Act, Boards have powers to make Byelaws to assist in controlling activities adjacent to watercourses. These Byelaws are approved by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

IDBs consult with the Planning Authorities on Drainage Matters and comments are returned incorporating Engineering Advice where necessary.

Some IDBs have their own labour force who carry out maintenance and improvement works. These works include operating pumping stations, flail mowing, removing silt and obstructions, piling slipping banks, and maintaining grids, culverts and other flood defence structures.

Drainage Rating

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What to do when a property is sold

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What to do if there is a change of use

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Access arrangements to watercourses

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What to do when you wish to do ANY work in or adjacent to ANY watercourse

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