Hydrology in the UK

Hydrological analysis in the United Kingdom is complex and fast evolving. Flood Modeller provides a digital workflow for undertaking methods from the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH), but users should have a solid understanding of technical and regulatory requirements before undertaking analysis.  

This page provides links and references to key documents and guidance for undertaking UK hydrology. References are not exhaustive and are subject to change as methods and guidance evolve. If you identify further resources that should be referenced here, please contact us via support.

Document and LinkAuthorDescription
Flood Estimation GuidelinesEnvironment AgencyDocument published by the Environment Agency providing an overview of key methods and guidance on application for studies in England
Flood and coastal risk projects, schemes and strategies: climate change allowances
Environment AgencyWhen and how risk management authorities should use climate change allowances for flood and coastal risk projects, schemes and strategies.
Flood risk assessments: climate change allowances
Environment AgencyWhen and how local planning authorities, developers and their agents should use climate change allowances in flood risk assessments.
Climate change allowances ScotlandSEPA

Climate change allowances for flood risk assessment in land use planning for Scotland.

Technical Flood Risk Guidance for Stakeholders
SEPAOutlines methodologies that may be appropriate for hydrological and hydraulic modelling and what information SEPA requires to be submitted as part of a Flood Risk Assessment.
GN008 Flood estimation technical guidance
NRWFlood estimation guidance published by Natural Resources Wales.  This is available on request from NRW via this link
Climate change allowances and flood consequence assessmentsNRWUp to date allowances for sea level rise and peak river flows for use in flood consequences assessments published by Natural Resources Wales
Flood Estimation HandbookUKCEHDocuments detailing methods associated with the Flood Estimation Handbook.  All volumes can be downloaded from the linked page.  Please note, many methods have been updated/refined since original publication in 1999.
Flood Studies ReportUKCEHFlood Studies Report (FSR) originally published in 1975 can be downloaded from linked page.
Flood Hydrology Improvement Programme (FHIP)Environment AgencyProgramme to update UK hydrological methods for flood risk.  Programme is underway and regular updates/material are published on the FHIP website.
Technical Flood Risk Guidance in relation to Allowances for Climate ChangeDepartment for InfrastructureThis Technical Flood Risk Guidance sets out DfI Roads & Rivers and NI Water’s approaches to allowing for Climate Change
FEH Web ServiceUKCEHUKCEH website providing access to FEH catchment descriptors
National River Flow ArchiveUKCEHData and reference data for the National River Flow Archive
WINFAP5WHSReference and help documents for WINFAP5 published by Wallingford Hydro Solutions
ReFH2WHSReference and help documents for ReFH2 published by Wallingford Hydro Solutions