Commentary Key concepts and definitions Section 1: “Flood” and “coastal erosion”
18.Subsection (1) defines a “flood” as including cases where land not normally covered by water becomes covered by water. Subsection (2) indicates some of the sources from which a flood could occur. This list is not exhaustive or limiting.
19.Subsection (3) excludes certain forms of flooding from the definition of “flood”. The first exclusion is flooding from any part of a sewerage system, unless caused by increases in volume from rainfall (including snow or other precipitation). Flooding from a sewerage system is covered under section 94(1)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991. The second exclusion is flooding from a burst water main (as defined in section 219 of the Water Industry Act 1991). Flooding from a water main is covered by section 37(1)(b) of that Act.
20.Subsection (4) defines “coastal erosion” as erosion of the coast of England and Wales.