Integrated Catchment Management — a UK perspective

Integrated catchment management (ICM) studies seek to account for complex relationships between a number of interconnected systems. The principle of integrated catchment management is to consider all of the aspects of catchments which contribute to water quality and/or flooding problems. This can include piped systems (e.g. sewers (foul, surface water and combined), pumping stations, combined sewer overflows, sewage treatment works, culverted watercourses and highway drainage) and overland systems (e.g. watercourses, surface water flows).This paper describes the best practice approach to undertake integrated catchment management in the UK. In presenting this methodology, incorporating the complexity and benefits, as well as the challenges and ways they can be overcome, the paper will demonstrate the value that these studies provide to municipalities, industry, regulators and other stakeholders (including the public).