A detailed report published by the Environment Agency today quantifying the damages caused by flooding in England and Wales between December 2013 and March 2014 puts the cost at as much as £1.5 billion.

The total economic damages for England and Wales from the winter 2013 to 2014 floods were estimated to be between £1,000 million and £1,500 million, with a best estimate of £1,300 million. Residential properties suffered the greatest proportion of flood damages, with 25% of total damages occurring to this sector (best estimate of £320 million incurred by 10,465 properties).

To estimate the costs of the winter 2013 to 2014 floods, data were collected from a wide range of sources, including both national datasets and local sources. Over 600 organisations were contacted for information and over 500 data sources (reports, presentations, spreadsheets and spatial data)were reviewed.

Baesd on data provided the Association of Drainage Authorities, Internal Drainage Boards, Ofwat and the water companies themselves, best estimate for direct costs incurred by the water sector is put at £29 million, with a range of £25 million to £33 million.

The local level data from the water companies were considered the most robust and were aggregated to provide a best estimate of 36 for the number of assets affected by flooding during the 2013 to 2014 winter period.

This includes damages to Kenley water treatment works from 5 weeks of flooding in February 2014, damages to 8 water recycling pumping stations and 1 water recycling centre in Lincolnshire and damage to 17 water recycling pumping stations in the East of England.

The Environment Agency said the methodology used in the project will be used to update the evidence base on the economic damages of flooding and associated decision making rules for investment.

Click here to download The costs and impacts of the winter 2013 to 2014 floods

Waterbriefing is media partner with the major Environment Agency Flood and Coast 2016 conference and exhibition in Telford this week from 23rd-25th February 2016. Click here for more information.