Severn Trent becomes first water company to support property flood resilience association

Severn Trent has become the first water company to support the International Property Flood Resilience Association (IPFRA), strengthening collaboration around property-level flood resilience and community preparedness. The partnership will create opportunities to share knowledge and explore how property-level measures can complement wider investment in drainage, infrastructure, catchment management and flood-risk reduction.

The move brings a water utility into IPFRA’s supporter network for the first time, reflecting the increasingly collaborative approach being taken to flood resilience across the UK. Water companies, local authorities, the Environment Agency, contractors and property resilience specialists all have a role to play in reducing flood impacts on homes, businesses and communities.

Severn Trent becomes IPFRA’s first water company supporter

Severn Trent provides water and wastewater services across the Midlands and works with customers, communities, local authorities, the Environment Agency and other partners on flood-risk management. Its support for IPFRA marks the first time a UK water company has formally backed the association.

The partnership is expected to create more opportunities for knowledge sharing around property flood resilience, drainage, catchment management and community preparedness. It also gives IPFRA a direct link to a major utility with practical experience of managing flood-related risks across a large operational area.

Property flood resilience gains wider industry support

Property flood resilience measures are designed to reduce the impact of flooding on homes and businesses where flood risk cannot be completely removed. These measures can include flood doors, barriers, non-return valves, resilient construction materials and other interventions that help prevent water entering a property or reduce the damage caused when flooding occurs.

Such measures increasingly sit alongside larger-scale approaches including drainage investment, catchment management and traditional flood defences. Together, these interventions can help communities become better prepared for flooding and recover more quickly when events occur.

Collaboration seen as key to flood preparedness

Graham Brogden MBE, Chair of IPFRA, said the addition of Severn Trent was an important development for the association and highlighted the need for cross-sector collaboration.

“Welcoming Severn Trent Water as IPFRA’s first water company sponsor is an important development for the association. Improving the nation’s resilience to flooding requires collaboration across many different industries.”

Brogden said water companies have an important role to play not only through their work on drainage and infrastructure, but also through their relationships with customers and communities.

“We look forward to working with Severn Trent as we continue to raise awareness of property flood resilience and encourage greater preparedness.”

Water companies play a wider role in flood resilience

Water companies are increasingly involved in flood resilience beyond the operation of sewer and drainage networks. Partnership working with local authorities, regulators, community groups and environmental organisations can help coordinate investment and identify areas where different measures can work together.

Property-level interventions can add another layer of protection for households and businesses in locations where flood risk remains despite wider infrastructure improvements. This can be particularly important in areas exposed to surface water flooding, sewer flooding or repeated extreme rainfall events.

Severn Trent highlights proactive action

Christian Jones, Community Flood Manager at Severn Trent, said the company recognises that building resilience to flooding requires collaboration across the wider sector.

“At Severn Trent, we recognise that building resilience to flooding requires collaboration across the entire sector. We are delighted to support IPFRA and its work to promote property flood resilience, raise awareness of flood risk, and help communities become better prepared for future flooding events.”

Jones said the utility sees first-hand the benefits of proactive action through its work with customers, local authorities, the Environment Agency and other partners.

“We look forward to working with IPFRA and its members to share knowledge, support innovation and help strengthen flood resilience across the communities we serve.”

Property resilience forms part of wider flood strategy

Flood resilience increasingly requires a combination of large-scale infrastructure, catchment-based solutions and measures targeted at individual properties. Property flood resilience can therefore complement wider investment rather than replace it.

IPFRA’s role is to promote awareness and adoption of property flood resilience measures while encouraging consistent standards across the sector. Severn Trent’s involvement adds a water-utility perspective to that work and creates another route for practical knowledge sharing.

H2O Global News continues to cover developments in flood resilience and water infrastructure as utilities and communities adapt to increasingly complex flood risks.