Flood risk will be assessed more accurately and reliably in the future with the use of HiFlows-UK, a new database launched by the Environment Agency, for UK Scotland and N Ireland.

Flood risk will be assessed more accurately and reliably in the future with the use of HiFlows-UK, a new database launched jointly today (Monday) by the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and the Rivers Agency (Northern Ireland). Accessible online, HiFlows-UK provides flood peak data and supporting information for catchments across the UK. The new database is aimed primarily at professional users of the statistical flood estimation methods set out in the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH), which is the standard method of flood peak estimation in the UK.

Flood estimates using these methods improve as more data becomes available.

HiFlows-UK updates and improves the data originally provided with the FEH, enlarging the dataset by 40% to provide flood information from 962 gauging stations in the UK.

Peter Spencer, HiFlows-UK project manager, said: 'HiFlows-UK underpins flood risk management in the UK.

This important new source of data for flood estimation will be used over a range of applications, for example, the design of flood alleviation schemes, floodplain mapping, and flood risk assessments'.

The HiFlows-UK project is a joint initiative between the three UK gauging authorities - the Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland.

Funding was provided by HM Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund, which provides a secure funding for co-operative projects.

The Environment Agency led the project, supported by Defra and CEH Wallingford.

The aims of the HiFlows-UK project were.

* review existing flood peak data to provide a single authoritative UK dataset.

* improve background information to assist users of the FEH to make valid decisions.

* add recent data and additional sites.

* make data widely available and easily accessible to everyone via the internet.

* establish structures and procedures for future updating and dissemination.

The project included an extensive testing programme for both data quality and the website, with a complete pilot site released in March 2004 for users to feed back comments and personal knowledge.

Importantly, HiFlows-UK will establish procedures for future annual updates and improvements.

This will keep the data up-to-date, increase the number of stations, and provide further information.

This will ensure also consistency of data collection and reporting across all of the gauging authorities.

The results of ongoing station reviews and data improvements carried out by the three gauging authorities will also be included.

Peter Spencer added: 'There has been considerable interest from practising hydrologists and engineers, who will have ready access over the internet to up-to-date flood data and supporting information such as graphs, photographs and notes on data quality'.