Flood and Water Management Act 2010

6 Other definitions

(1) “Main river” has the meaning given by section 113 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

(2) “Watercourse” has the meaning given by section 72(1) of the Land Drainage Act 1991.

(3) “Ordinary watercourse” means a watercourse that does not form part of a main river.

(4) “Groundwater” means all water which is below the surface of the ground and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil.

(5) “Surface runoff” means rainwater (including snow and other precipitation) which—

(a) is on the surface of the ground (whether or not it is moving), and

(b) has not entered a watercourse, drainage system or public sewer.

(6) In subsection (5)(b)—

(a) the reference to a watercourse includes a reference to a lake, pond or other area of water which flows into a watercourse, and

(b) “drainage system” has the meaning given by paragraph 1 of Schedule 3.

(7) “Lead local flood authority” in relation to an area in England means—

(a) the unitary authority for the area, or

(b) if there is no unitary authority, the county council for the area.

(8) “Unitary authority” means—

(a) the council of a county for which there are no district councils;

(b) the council of a district in an area for which there is no county council;

(c) the council of a London borough;

(d) the Common Council of the City of London;

(e) the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

(9) “Lead local flood authority” in relation to an area in Wales means—

(a) the county council for the area;

(b) the county borough council for the area.

(10) “Internal drainage board” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Land Drainage Act 1991.

(11) “Water company” means a company which holds—

(a) an appointment under Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991, or

(b) a licence under Chapter 1A of Part 2 of that Act.

(12) “Highway authority” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Highways Act 1980.

(13) “Risk management authority” means—

(a) the Environment Agency,

(b) a lead local flood authority,

(c) a district council for an area for which there is no unitary authority,

(d) an internal drainage board,

(e) a water company, and

(f) a highway authority.

(14) “English risk management authority” means—

(a) the Environment Agency,

(b) a risk management authority within subsection (13)(b), (c) or (f) for an area that is wholly in England,

(c) an internal drainage board for an internal drainage district that is wholly or mainly in England, and

(d) a water company that exercises functions in relation to an area in England.

(15) “Welsh risk management authority” means—

(a) the Environment Agency,

(b) a risk management authority within subsection (13)(b), (c) or (f) for an area that is wholly in Wales,

(c) an internal drainage board for an internal drainage district that is wholly or mainly in Wales, and

(d) a water company that exercises functions in relation to an area in Wales.

(16) “Cross-border internal drainage board” means an internal drainage board for an internal drainage district that is partly in England and partly in Wales.