The RMAIDB is responsible for the control and maintenance of certain watercourses within the district. We maintain approximately 350km of watercourses, known as Petty Sewers or Lesser Sewers, in the Romney District.

These watercourses are brushed annually. This is mainly carried out using mechanical weedcutters; however in some instances where access is difficult for machinery this is done by hand. We now undertake desilting on an ‘as required’ basis.

Pumping Stations

The RMAIDB owns five pumping stations: Kitsbridge and Lodgeland in the Romney Marsh district, Brack, Indraft and Northpoint B in the Walland Marsh district. We also use two submersible pumps to enhance summer water levels, situated at the Icklesham and Newhouse Pumping Stations in the Pett district. The remaining pumping stations, although many do pump RMAIDB watercourses, are Environment Agency owned.

Control of Watercourses Flow

Under section 23 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, no person may cause an obstruction to or alter the flow of any ordinary watercourse without the written consent of the RMAIDB.

Conservation

To comply with the 1994 amendment of the Land Drainage Act 1991 we have a duty to further conservation and along with environmental responsibilities we must consider the effective management of appropriate water levels. Within our coverage area there are several sites of Special Scientific Interest:

We have entered into an agreement for a Site Management Statement with Natural England to enable annual routine works to be undertaken without needing to seek repeat approval.

The Environment Agency

The RMAIDB is closely linked with the Environment Agency. Under Section 105 of the Water Resources Act 1991 the Agency has the following duties / powers:

• Supervision of all matters relating to Flood Defence
• Maintenance of Sea Defences
• Regulation of Abstraction and Irrigation
• Implementation of an effective Flood Warning System for people and property at risk from fluvial or tidal flooding

The Water Resources Act 1991 confers functions in relation to Main River on the Agency that are functions of the RMAIDB in relation to other watercourses under the Land Drainage Act 1991. All the RMAIDB’s watercourses drain either directly or indirectly into Main River.

County Councils

The RMAIDB is a risk management authority as stated in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and works with both Kent and East Sussex County Councils who are the Lead Local Flood Authorities.

Contributions

Under Section 141 of the Water Resources Act 1991 the Agency may issue a precept to the RMAIDB to recover a contribution that the Agency considers fair towards their expenses.

Under Section 57 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, in cases where the internal drainage district receives water from land at a higher level, the RMAIDB may make an application to the Agency for a contribution towards the expenses of dealing with that water.