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    The Water Management Alliance (WMA)

    About us

    Aerial view of the WMA head office, Pierpoint House in October 2025

    The Water Management Alliance (WMA) is a group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) working together to deliver more efficient and effective water and flood risk management across South Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and the South East.

    Our Member Boards include

    Sunrise over Upton Marsh and the River Bure October 2025

    Broads IDB

    The Board’s Area includes vital habitats, top-quality grazing land, 50,000 residents, a thriving economy, and global tourism - worth protecting now and for the future.
    Deben Esturary 2018

    East Suffolk WMB

    The Board’s Area, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, includes Minsmere Reserve, vital habitats, 10,000 residents and a thriving area for tourism.
    Landscape showing Wingland Sluice Drain and arable land being cultivated following harvest in September 2025

    King’s Lynn IDB

    The Board’s Area includes vital habitats and some of the country’s most fertile arable land, supporting around 10,000 residents and a thriving rural economy.
    Castle Acre Pirory and the River Nar September 2025

    Norfolk Rivers IDB

    The Board’s Area includes fertile arable land and rapidly growing commuter communities for Norwich city, home to around 100,000 people and a thriving, fast-growing local economy.
    River Cuckmere valley July 2023

    Pevensey & Cuckmere WLMB

    The Board’s Area includes rapidly developing communities and rich wild places, it is home to 15,000 people, a thriving economy and a very strong domestic tourism industry.
    Sutton Sluice and windfarm in South Holland arable landscape

    South Holland IDB

    The Board’s Area includes some of the world’s most fertile arable land, home to 60,000 people, a thriving economy and a growing domestic tourist destination.
    River Yare at Reedham Ferry July 2025

    Waveney, Lower Yare and Lothingland IDB

    The Board’s Area includes vital habitats and top-quality grazing land, it is home to 15,000 people, a thriving economy and is a popular tourist destination.

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    River Yare at Reedham Ferry July 2025

    Since 1967

    we’ve shared services and expertise to: 

    • Reduce costs 
    • Improve resilience 
    • Strengthen local delivery 
    • Influence national water policy 

    Each IDB remains fully accountable for its own catchment and the WMA provides support, handling: 

    • Finance (administration)
    • Environment (technical services)
    • Mapping (technical services)
    • Development & Consent (sustainable development) 
    • Project Delivery (civil engineering)

    This enables our Member Boards to focus on frontline operations, ensuring reliable, effective drainage where it matters most. 

    Together, we deliver cost-effective services while keeping decisions local. 

    Coastal Engineering Team working with a crane to get the new Kessingland Steps into place

    Why We Work This Way

    We believe in local leadership backed by shared strength. The WMA model means: 

    • Smarter use of public money
    • Consistent service quality 
    • A stronger voice at regional and national levels 

    Our Member Boards shape how we operate, because we exist to serve them. 

    Explore our Governance and History pages to learn more about how the Water Management Alliance (WMA) were formed and how we are managed.

    In channel view of new gentle gradiant of Starston Beck bank at Glebe Meadow - Complete in April 2025

    Our Vision

    To create safer, more sustainable communities across our Member Boards’ coastal zones and catchment areas – places where people can live, work, learn and enjoy life in harmony with water and nature. 

    Aerial view of construction of meanders at Starston Beck, showing Excavators and dumpers at work in April 2025

    Our Mission

    • Reduce the risk to people, property, infrastructure and the natural environment by providing and maintaining technically, environmentally and economically sustainable flood, water resource and coastal defences within our coastal zones and watershed catchment areas. 
    • Be the local delivery partner of choice for all flood, water resource and coastal risk management services in our coastal zones and watershed catchment areas, by working closely with other Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Authorities, partners and stakeholders. 
    • Enable and facilitate land use for residential, commercial, recreational and environmental purposes in our coastal zones and watershed catchment areas, by guiding and regulating activities that would otherwise increase flood, drought or coastal erosion risk. 
    • Nurture, enhance and maintain the natural habitats and species which exist in and alongside watercourses and other flood, water resource and coastal risk management infrastructure in our coastal zones and watershed catchment areas. 
    Double Rainbow over the Norfolk Broads

    Our Values

    We are guided by integrity, collaboration and service to our communities.
    Our work is rooted in our core principles, underpinned by: 

    • Prudence – wise, forward-thinking decisions 
    • Justice – fairness and transparency 
    • Temperance – balance, humility and accountability 
    • Resilience – in the face of uncertainty 

    These values shape how we work, who we are and how we serve. 

    Panoramic of the River Cuckmere valley - darkened for text to show over the top

    About Our Members

    The Water Management Alliance is made up of autonomous Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), each responsible for managing water levels and reducing flood and drought risk in their local Drainage Districts. 

    IDBs are unique organisations focused solely on flood risk management, land drainage and water level regulation. They: 

    • Maintain watercourses and infrastructure 
    • Manage surface water runoff 
    • Support sustainable development in high-risk areas 

    Locally Led, Democratically Accountable 

    Each Member Board is locally governed and funded, with every pound raised spent directly in its District. IDB members are elected every three years, ensuring full democratic accountability to local ratepayers.