Association of British Insurers (ABI)
The ABI is the trade association for the UK insurance industry, representing the vast majority of insurance business in the UK. This site contains advice on flooding, the ABI's Statement of Principles, flooding Questions & Answers and details of ABI's flooding research.
British Hydrological Society
Formed in 1983, the society caters for those with an interest in the inter-disciplinary subject of hydrology, and aims to promote interest and scholarship in scientific and applied aspects of hydrology and to foster the involvement of its members in national and international activities. The site contains details of conferences and meetings, a list of publications and a Chronology of British Hydrological Events.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
The Institute of Hydrology was established in 1968. On 1 April 2000, it merged with the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology, the Institute of Freshwater Ecology and the Institute of Virology and Environmental Micro-Biology to become CEH, Wallingford. As a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) it has about 150 scientists investigating the effects of land-use, climate, topography and geology on the volume and character of surface water resources.
Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities
COSLA is the representative voice of Scotland's unitary local authorities and aims to promote the role of councils and support them in their efforts to improve the service they deliver to the communities they represent.
Contact details for all Scottish local authorities, including web addresses.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA has a site devoted to flood management which, despite being more relevant to England and Wales than Scotland, contains useful information about many aspects of flood protection.
Environment Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) equivalent in England and Wales.
Floodline
Website of the 24 hour flood warning service run by SEPA and funded by the Executive, which provides live flood warning information of the levels of flood threat across Scotland, ranging from All Clears to Severe Flood Warnings. As well as recorded warnings, members of the public can speak directly to a SEPA duty officer by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
Flood Estimation Handbook
This 5-volume handbook was published by CEH Wallingford in 1999 and supercedes the Flood Studies Report of 1975. It gives guidance on rainfall and river flood frequency estimation in the UK. Its data is required for the planning and assessment of flood defences and the design of bridges, culverst and reservoir spillways and can be used to form the base for flood risk maps.
International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
IAHS aims to promote the study of hydrology as an aspect of the earth sciences and water resources; to provide for discussion, comparison and publication of research results; and to investigate, facilitate and co-ordinate research into, and investigation of, those hydrological problems which require international co-operation.
Meteorological Office
Formed in 1854, the Met Office is one of the world's leading providers of environmental and weather-related services. The Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research also forms part of the Met Office.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
SEPA is the public body responsible for environmental protection (of the land, water and air) in Scotland. It aims to provide an efficient and integrated environmental protection system for Scotland that will improve the environment and contribute to the government's goal of sustainable development. SEPA's flooding duties include measuring rainfall, implementing flood warning schemes, advising Councils of any information it has regarding flooding potential and assessing flood risk in any area as far as it considers appropriate.
Scottish Hydrological Group
Founded in 1965, this is a forum for hydrologists living and working in Scotland and is constituted as a study group supported by two local associations of the Insitution of Civil Engineers.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
SNH is a statutory body which aims to secure the conservation and enhancement of Scotland's natural heritage, advising on policies and promoting projects which improve and support the sustainable use of this heritage.
Scottish Water
Scottish Water is the amalgamation of the three previous water boards: East of Scotland Water, North of Scotland Water and West of Scotland Water. It is a public body model answerable to the Scottish Parliament and accountable to the Water Industry Commission, Water Customer Consultation Panels, SEPA and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland.
UK Climate Impacts Programme
Set up by the UK Government in 1997, UKCIP is funded by DEFRA and based at the University of Oxford. Its remit is to help organisations assess how they might be affected by climate change so that they can prepare for its impacts. UKCIP's latest scenarios report (UKCIP02), which offer four alternative scenarios of how climate change may affect UK climate over the next hundred years, can be accessed here along with other climate change related research and publications.