Online IDB maps go live

Following detailed behind-the-scenes work, ADA is delighted to announce the launch of a new digital map showing the boundaries of all 112 internal drainage board (IDB) districts in England. The new map can be found on the ADA website, along with contact details for each IDB.

It utilises the Google Maps interface to quickly enable users to zoom in to areas of interest, or to search for locations to find out if they are within or near to an IDB. This versatile tool has been created in conjunction with DigiBubble who built ADA’s current website in 2016. This new online service will be invaluable to members of the public, businesses and authorities who need to quickly find their local IDB.

The map applies a new geographical information system (GIS) layer of IDB boundaries commissioned by ADA in 2017. The ten month project to gather these boundaries, and in some cases digitise them from original maps, was completed by the Middle Level Commissioners in April. This is the first time that the accurate boundaries for all 112 internal drainage districts have been brought together in one place.

ADA hopes that the new opportunities provided by this data will assist better decision making, enabling us, and in time others, to better integrate information about IDBs with other geographical information related to the water environment or the communities they serve. We hope this will enhance the role of IDBs as England’s local water level managers, and make them even more accessible to those who benefit from their work.

ADA invites you to take advantage of the extensive work that has gone into creating this tool. so please visit the new map soon, and provide us with any feedback you may have. Our sincere thanks go to the Middle Level Commissioners, DigiBubble, and every IDB for the access to their data and maps, for the completion of this important project.

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