The Effectiveness of the Land-Drainage Consent System

This paper presents the results of a study into the effectiveness of the land-drainage consents system. The investigation studied eighteen main river reaches, each 2 km in length, in the north-east Thames region. All works within the main channel and the 8 m margin, subject to the regulations in the Water Resources Act 1991, were recorded. The impact that each of these works might have had upon the environment, including the ability of the river to pass the peak flow and the potential for an increase in pollution, has been assessed and an overall impact rating for each reach has been determined. Each of the works identified on the reaches has been cross-referenced with consent records held by the National Rivers Authority. Results that indicate that a high proportion (92%) of works do not have consent under the present system.