Project Groundwater Greater Lincolnshire recognised at national ADEPT Awards 

The team received a Highly Commended in the Deploying Digital Innovation and Technology category for the work behind Greater Lincolnshire’s hyperlocal flood alarm. The project uses real time monitoring and close work with communities to help people understand groundwater levels and prepare for flooding. 

The awards were part of ADEPT’s Spring Conference, which brought together people from across the sector to talk about the challenges councils are facing and how we keep moving forward. There was a lot of focus on how local authorities can stay resilient and keep delivering for residents, even with everything changing around us. 

Outgoing ADEPT President Angela Jones spoke about the standard of entries this year. She said: “Reading through the entries and seeing the range of them, the ambition, the heart that has gone into them, reminds me just how much brilliance exists within our local authorities. Every entry represents teams and individuals who have gone further than they had to, finding better ways to meet the needs of their communities, even in the face of growing challenges.” 

Andy Gutherson, Executive Director for Place at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Project Groundwater is creating something that will last and is an important legacy for Lincolnshire. It gives people very clear information about groundwater levels and helps communities understand the risks in a useful and practical way.  

“The PGGL team is also developing education tools that will be used in schools from September, so young people grow up with a better understanding of how groundwater works, the issues they may face and what that means for where they live.” 

From left: David Porter, Director of Engineering Department for Infrastructure Northern Ireland, Andy Gutherson Executive Director of Place at Lincolnshire County Council, Mitesh Solanki Managing Director at Ringway, Brett Rycroft-Jones Flood Resilience Programme Co-ordinator at Lincolnshire County Council, Vicky Jones Flood Resilience Programme Co-ordinator at Lincolnshire County Council, Angela Jones Immediate past president ADEPT and Director of Thriving places at Westmoreland & Furness Council

Lincolnshire was recognised alongside other councils doing impressive work to improve places and support communities. For PGGL, this commendation reflects the strength of the technical work, the leadership behind it and the way the team has brought partners and residents into the process. 

The project has already been recognised nationally in other programmes, including the Environmental Monitoring Awards and the Flood and Coast Awards. 

There has also been individual recognition for the leadership driving the programme. Vicky Jones, Project Co Lead and Flood Resilience Programme Co-ordinator, has been named a winner in both the 35 Under 35 Awards and the Environment 100. Vicky Jones and Brett Rycroft Jones have also been jointly shortlisted for the CIWEM Spotlight Awards for their collaborative leadership and the impact of their work across the water and environmental sector. 

Project Groundwater Greater Lincolnshire is funded by Defra through the Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes and delivered with the Environment Agency and a wide range of academic, industry and community partners. Together, the programme is changing how groundwater flooding is understood and managed across the county.