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Floods 'will push up water bills' Floods 'will push up water bills'
(30 minutes later)
Water bills will have to rise as a response to the floods, the head of the Environment Agency has told the BBC.Water bills will have to rise as a response to the floods, the head of the Environment Agency has told the BBC.
Baroness Young said that utility firms and local authorities had a duty to improve antiquated drainage systems to prevent future disasters.Baroness Young said that utility firms and local authorities had a duty to improve antiquated drainage systems to prevent future disasters.
Her comments came as some areas faced the risk of more flooding with further heavy rain predicted overnight.Her comments came as some areas faced the risk of more flooding with further heavy rain predicted overnight.
Meanwhile police searching for a teenager who went missing in Tewkesbury have found a body.Meanwhile police searching for a teenager who went missing in Tewkesbury have found a body.
Mitchell Taylor, 19, was last seen in the early hours of last Saturday after leaving a bar in Tewkesbury.Mitchell Taylor, 19, was last seen in the early hours of last Saturday after leaving a bar in Tewkesbury.
Gloucestershire Police said the body, which has not yet been formally identified, was discovered by an Italian hovercraft crew in a submerged field.Gloucestershire Police said the body, which has not yet been formally identified, was discovered by an Italian hovercraft crew in a submerged field.
Heavy rainHeavy rain
Around 130,000 homes in Gloucestershire are still without running water and the situation is likely to last for days.Around 130,000 homes in Gloucestershire are still without running water and the situation is likely to last for days.
Chief constable of Gloucestershire, Tim Brain, says the county still has only a fraction of the drinking water it usually uses.Chief constable of Gloucestershire, Tim Brain, says the county still has only a fraction of the drinking water it usually uses.
And he advised people in the area to stay in on Saturday evening because of the heavy rain forecast.And he advised people in the area to stay in on Saturday evening because of the heavy rain forecast.
He said: "We do not want to distract the efforts of any of the emergency services because people have become stuck away from home because they have engaged in an unnecessary journey."He said: "We do not want to distract the efforts of any of the emergency services because people have become stuck away from home because they have engaged in an unnecessary journey."
Water companies across the UK have been sending in tankers to help thousands of homeowners whose supplies have been contaminated, and the Red Cross has been delivering food parcels.Water companies across the UK have been sending in tankers to help thousands of homeowners whose supplies have been contaminated, and the Red Cross has been delivering food parcels.
The charity's appeal for flood victims has so far raised £500,000.The charity's appeal for flood victims has so far raised £500,000.
Relief effortRelief effort
Jane Rogers from the Red Cross who is running the relief effort in the affected areas, told BBC Five Live that in some places people had resorted to drinking pond water.Jane Rogers from the Red Cross who is running the relief effort in the affected areas, told BBC Five Live that in some places people had resorted to drinking pond water.
"The problem now is that people do not have drinking water coming through their taps, so we have seen people who have been without drinking water for four days now," she said."The problem now is that people do not have drinking water coming through their taps, so we have seen people who have been without drinking water for four days now," she said.
Baroness Young told the BBC News website that public bodies and firms providing essential services had to think about climate change and adapting the infrastructure.Baroness Young told the BBC News website that public bodies and firms providing essential services had to think about climate change and adapting the infrastructure.
Bodies owning "sensitive installations" such as power stations should make them "more robust", she added.Bodies owning "sensitive installations" such as power stations should make them "more robust", she added.
Everybody who provides a service has got to think about climate change Baroness YoungEnvironment Agency chief Tonight's weather - BBC Weather CentreEverybody who provides a service has got to think about climate change Baroness YoungEnvironment Agency chief Tonight's weather - BBC Weather Centre
Price limits for water have already been set for up to 2010 by regulator Ofwat, meaning any rises could only come into force from 2011 onwards.Price limits for water have already been set for up to 2010 by regulator Ofwat, meaning any rises could only come into force from 2011 onwards.
The Environment Agency chief executive said the water firms' responsibility, which would effect bill rises was a "small part" of an overall strategy to protect against future climate change events.The Environment Agency chief executive said the water firms' responsibility, which would effect bill rises was a "small part" of an overall strategy to protect against future climate change events.
"Everybody who provides a service has got to think about climate change," she said."Everybody who provides a service has got to think about climate change," she said.
We had seen very heavy rainfall and "more and more flash flooding" and bodies and housing developers must take this into consideration, she said.We had seen very heavy rainfall and "more and more flash flooding" and bodies and housing developers must take this into consideration, she said.
"Most scientists say it is too early to say if recent flooding was the result of climate change, but these extreme events are happening more frequently.""Most scientists say it is too early to say if recent flooding was the result of climate change, but these extreme events are happening more frequently."
She said in many cities the drainage was built 150 to 200 years ago and was unable to cope with such heavy rain.She said in many cities the drainage was built 150 to 200 years ago and was unable to cope with such heavy rain.
Flood warningFlood warning
Baroness Young said another key factor was protecting against flooding from rivers and seas, for which the prime minister announced an extra £200m in flood defences.Baroness Young said another key factor was protecting against flooding from rivers and seas, for which the prime minister announced an extra £200m in flood defences.
As more rain was predicted, Baroness Young advised people to listen to radio, television and online reports and to call Floodline and follow the recommendations.As more rain was predicted, Baroness Young advised people to listen to radio, television and online reports and to call Floodline and follow the recommendations.
She also said many people should sign to the agency's direct flood warning service, which had made 140,000 calls to those at risk of flooding over the past week.She also said many people should sign to the agency's direct flood warning service, which had made 140,000 calls to those at risk of flooding over the past week.
See where the heaviest rain fellEnlarge MapSee where the heaviest rain fellEnlarge Map
BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs said: "On Saturday night we are going to some heavy rain but it's not going to be anything like the amounts we saw when we had the flooding originally.BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs said: "On Saturday night we are going to some heavy rain but it's not going to be anything like the amounts we saw when we had the flooding originally.
"Still the ground is saturated, which can cause concern.""Still the ground is saturated, which can cause concern."
He said widely across south Wales and southern England 10 to 15 mm of rain was expected, with a few places seeing as much as 30mm of rain.He said widely across south Wales and southern England 10 to 15 mm of rain was expected, with a few places seeing as much as 30mm of rain.
This compares to 120 mm of rainfall which occurred in some places during the recent flooding.This compares to 120 mm of rainfall which occurred in some places during the recent flooding.
Severn Trent Water said 'significant progress' had been made in getting the flooded Mythe water treatment plant working again.Severn Trent Water said 'significant progress' had been made in getting the flooded Mythe water treatment plant working again.
Some economists have put the immediate costs of the floods at around £5bn.Some economists have put the immediate costs of the floods at around £5bn.
The Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that repairing damage to schools, roads and bridges was going to be "a long hard slog."The Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that repairing damage to schools, roads and bridges was going to be "a long hard slog."
Conservative leader David Cameron visited flood-hot Tewkesbury on Saturday. He said the government must be challenged to ensure the flooding risk was reduced in the future. Conservative leader David Cameron visited flood-hit Tewkesbury on Saturday. He said the government must be challenged to ensure the flooding risk was reduced in the future.
Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188


Have you been affected by the floods? How are the drinking water supplies? Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences.Have you been affected by the floods? How are the drinking water supplies? Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences.
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124.Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoYou can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124.Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
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