Sections 134 and 135 of the Water Resources Act 1991 enable the National Rivers Authority (“the NRA”) to raise general drainage charges for local flood defence districts. These Regulations make provision for the method of ascertaining the quotient to be used to calculate such charges. They provide for the quotient to be determined by the application of a formula which varies the quotient calculated in respect of the financial year 1989/90. This variation is achieved by taking account of the amount of levies issued by the NRA in respect of a local flood defence district and the council tax base of that district in the financial year for which the drainage charge is raised (regulation 3).

These Regulations apply to local flood defence districts wholly or mainly in England.