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Flood and Water Management Act (FWMA) received Royal Assent on 8th April 2010 and is being brought into force by a series of Commencement orders.  These are Statutory Instruments designed to bring into force the whole or part of an Act of Parliament which for some reason it is not desired to put into effect immediately upon Royal Assent.  In order to implement FWMA in full a number of statutory instruments need to be made and the national flood and coastal risk management strategy needs to be put in place.  A phased implementation allows for this.  Each commencement order is laid before Parliament and the part or parts of the Act covered by the Commencement Order come into force at the dates stated in the Order.  The first commencement order was made on 31 August 2010 (SI 2010 No. 2169)

The FWMA provides for the delivery of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management by a number of risk authorities.  

It's purpose is to:

1. Introduce into law the  concept of flood risk management (rather than 'flood defence') and the framework for delivery of flood and coastal erosion risk management through national and local risk strategies.
2. Provide new definitions for example  “flood”, “surface runoff”, “Risk Management Authorities”, Lead Local Flood Authority”
3. Provide the framework for facilitating sustainable drainage.
4. Require relevant parties to co-operate and provide information to help manage flood risk.
5. Require LLFAs to maintain a register and record of important flood risk management structures and to investigate flooding to determine which authority has responsibility.
6. Provide for the designation of features having a key flood risk management function even if not constructed as such for     example garden walls.
7. Amend the following key Acts:-