Who does what

Many organisations work together to predict and protect you from river and coastal flooding. 

You:

SEPA:

  • Monitors the rivers and the sea to predict the likelihood of flooding.
  • Issues flood risk messages and offers flood preparation advice through Floodline – 0845 988 1188.
  • Provides information on areas at risk of river and coastal flooding.
  • Helps local authorities identify sustainable actions to manage flooding.

Scottish Water:

  • Manages public water and waste network, including assessing risk of surface and sewer flooding.
  • Minimises risk of sewer flooding.
  • Reservoir maintenance.
  • Works with other organisations to reduce impact of floods and create surface water management plans.

Police:

  • Emergency services co-ordination.
  • Road traffic control.
  • Responsible for saving lives, evacuation and public information.

Your local authority:

  • Plans flood defence schemes.
  • River and burn maintenance (non-agricultural land).
  • Gully (gutter and drain covers) maintenance for local roads.
  • Manages flood defences and puts flood barriers in place.
  • Works with emergency services in response to severe flooding.
  • Co-ordinates shelter for people who are evacuated.

The Fire and Rescue Service:

  • The Scottish Fire & Rescue services have a duty to save lives in the event of serious flooding which is likely to cause one or more individuals to die, be seriously injured or become seriously ill.

Transport Scotland:

  • Gully (gutter and drain covers) maintenance for main roads.
  • Main road closures.

Scottish Government:

  • Responsible for overall flooding policy.
  • Funds SEPA's flood warning services.

Scottish Flood Forum:

  • Offers support and advice on flood protection, insurance, recovery, advice on establishing community flood groups and business continuity planning.
  • Represents the interests of people affected by, or at risk of, flooding. For more information on the Scottish Flood Forum visit their website external link

Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership (MGSDP)
This partnership is made up of several bodies, including SEPA, Scottish Water, Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government. Its responsibilities include:

  • Working in partnership on a long term solution to problems with the Greater Glasgow drainage infrastructure.
  • Liaising with the seven local authorities in the Metropolitan Glasgow area
  • Communicating progress of the plan to affected communities and other stakeholders.

The MGSDP website can be viewed here external link