Flooding - Back To The Future?

In the late nineteenth century, there was severe flooding in the east end of London. A poor, working-class, industrial, slum-ridden area, the result was catastrophic. And it was all the more catastrophic because the local private water company proved itself totally inadequate at dealing with the crisis and supplying clean water and sanitation.

The upshot of this was that the Metropolitan Water Board was formed to bring London's water supply into public ownership.

Anyone reckon that we are in a similar situation this summer and perhaps a similar response is required?