S.L. 549.167 Art. 3Prelimiary flood risk assessment.

(1) The competent authority shall undertake a preliminary flood risk assessment for each water catchment district and unit of management by 22 December 2011. This preliminary flood risk assessment shall provide an assessment of potential risks and shall be based on available or readily derivable information, such as records and studies on long term developments, in particular the impact of climate change on the occurrence of floods, and shall include the information required in sub-regulation (2).

(2) The preliminary flood risk assessment shall include at least:

(a) maps of the water catchment district at the appropriate scale including the borders of the water catchments, sub-catchments, and where existing, coastal areas, showing topography and land use;

(b) a description of the floods which have occurred in the past and which have had significant adverse impacts on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity and for which the likelihood of similar future events is still relevant, including the flood extent and conveyance routes and an assessment of the adverse impacts they have entailed;

(c) a description of the significant floods which have occurred in the past, where significant adverse consequences of similar future events might be envisaged;

(3) The competent authority shall, where considered necessary, in collaboration and with the contribution of the relevant competent authorities undertake an assessment of the potential adverse consequences of future floods for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity, taking into account as far as possible issues such as the topography, the position of watercourses and their general hydrological and geomorphological characteristics, including floodplains as natural retention areas, the effectiveness of existing manmade flood defence infrastructures, the position of populated areas, areas of economic activity and long-term developments including impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods.