Minister Michelle O'Neill has congratulated Rivers Agency on winning a major award for its Flood Map.

Rivers Agency won the Institute of Water's NI Area Innovation Award for the Strategic Flood Map which provides information on past and future flood risk from rivers, the sea and is the first publically available map in the UK or Ireland which includes the risk from surface water flooding.

Speaking about the award, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister O'Neill said: "The Institute of Water, in presenting this regional award, has recognised Rivers Agency’s proactive response to flooding. With the map now widely available, property owners, businesses and local service providers all have easy access to information about past and future risk in their own areas, so that they are better prepared and can plan accordingly."

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The Minister continued: "This award is also industry recognition of the efforts of Rivers Agency staff involved in the development of these mapping products. I understand that flooding can cause major damage and disruption and so my officials go to great lengths to provide good quality, easily understood flood risk information to the public. The Strategic Flood Map is therefore an essential tool as it enables everyone to understand the risk they face, which in turns allows informed decisions to be taken to reduce the impact of flooding on people, property and the natural environment."

Publication of the surface water flood information is very innovative and it raises the profile of this source of flooding, which given the predictions for climate change is likely to become increasingly more frequent in the future.

The competition was open to individuals, teams or organisations working in the water industry in the north with an innovation or innovative idea. The winning submission from River Agency together with other regional finalists will go forward to the Institute of Water National Innovation Awards in London.

(CD/GK)