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Riparian owners are responsible for the land drainage of their own land and for accepting the material water flow from the adjoining land.
Riparian owners also have responsibilities towards neighbouring property and whilst they have the right to discard material water flows from their land to adjoining land, this should not be done in a negligent or wilful manner.
Riparian owners are normally responsible in full or part for watercourses or culverted watercourses passing through or adjoining the boundaries of their land. Their primary responsibility is to keep these clear of any obstructions which would impede the normal water flow.
Often when a watercourse is situated on the boundaries of separate land ownerships, each adjoining owner shares responsibility.
A riparian owner is not permitted to construct any structure or works such as bridging, culverting, diverting, infilling or creating a pond in, under or over a watercourse which is likely to affect the water flow without prior consultation with the District Council and the Environment Agency.
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