DfI Rivers facts for kids

DfI Rivers is a special group that works for the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in Northern Ireland. Think of it like a team within a bigger government department. Their main job is to manage water and protect people from floods across Northern Ireland.

This group is officially in charge of drainage and flood defense. This means they look after rivers, streams, and other waterways to make sure water flows properly. They also build and maintain things that help stop floods, like flood walls and embankments.

What is DfI Rivers?

DfI Rivers is an important part of the Northern Ireland Executive, which is the government of Northern Ireland. It's an "executive agency," meaning it's a specific team set up to do a particular job for the government. Their work is based on a law called the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order from 1973. This law gives them the power to do their job.

What Does DfI Rivers Do?

The main goal of DfI Rivers is to keep Northern Ireland safe from flooding. They work to make sure water drains away properly and that communities are protected.

Protecting Against Floods

One of their biggest jobs is flood defense. This involves:

• Building and looking after flood defenses like walls and barriers.
• Clearing rivers and drains to help water flow smoothly.
• Responding when floods happen to help people and manage the situation.

Managing Waterways

DfI Rivers also makes sure that rivers and other waterways are managed well. This helps prevent problems before they start. They work to follow rules from the European Union called the Floods directive. This directive is a plan to help countries understand and reduce flood risks. DfI Rivers is the team that carries out this plan in Northern Ireland.

Where is DfI Rivers Located?

The main office for DfI Rivers is in Cookstown. They also have other offices around Northern Ireland to help them manage different areas. These regional offices are in Lisburn and Omagh. You can also find their offices in Coleraine, Craigavon, and Ballinamallard.

The Strategic Flood Map

DfI Rivers created a special tool called the Strategic Flood Map (NI) - Rivers & Sea. They worked with another government department, the Department of the Environment (DOE), to make it.

What is the Flood Map For?

The main purpose of this map is to show areas in Northern Ireland that might be at risk of flooding. It helps everyone understand where floods could happen, whether from rivers or the sea.

How the Map Helps

The Strategic Flood Map is very useful because it helps:

• Plan for Safety: It helps DfI Rivers and other groups plan how to reduce flood risks in different areas.
• Inform Communities: It encourages people who live or work in areas that might flood to learn more and prepare themselves.
• Guide Building: It helps people who want to build new homes or buildings understand if flooding might be a problem for their plans.

In December 2011, a new version of the map was released. This updated map included the latest information about rivers and the sea. It also added details about past flood events. For the first time, it even showed areas at risk from "surface water flooding," which happens when heavy rain can't soak into the ground fast enough.