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<p>Storm Christoph brought over a month's rain in 30 hours onto already wet catchments.
This overwhelmed the capacity of the combined foul (waste water) and surface water
sewer network in Northwich, owned by the local water company. The Environment Agency
is leading a review of the drainage infrastructure, its capacities and possible overflow
points before foul and surface water reaches the town centre. Following the review,
the Environment Agency and partners will develop a series of options.</p><p>The responsibility
for coordinating the management of surface water flooding falls to Lead Local Flood
Authorities and they are expected to have well established contingency arrangements
in place and to be able to respond and support their local communities. In managing
these risks the Lead Local Flood Authority will work with other flood Risk Management
Authorities. This includes the local Highways Authorities, who are responsible for
highway and gully maintenance, and the water and sewerage companies who operate and
maintain the sewer network.</p><p>Water and sewerage companies are under a duty (section
94, Water Industry Act 1991) to maintain their sewers to ensure that their area is
effectually drained. Consideration of whether this duty have been breached, and any
subsequent enforcement action, would be taken by Ofwat. Following the 2019 Price Review
the water and sewerage companies have committed to invest more than £1 billion to
protect the environment, homes, businesses and drinking water from flooding.</p><p>Under
section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 a Lead Local Flood Authority
is required to investigate, to the extent that they consider it necessary or appropriate,
flooding incidents, including whether Risk Management Authorities have exercised their
functions. Once completed the report must be published and the relevant Risk Management
Authorities notified.</p>
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