Its members include Internal Drainage Boards, the Environment Agency Regional Flood Defence Committees and the Northern Ireland Rivers Agency. Associate Members include Local Authorities, Consultants, Contractors and Suppliers.

• facilitating the exchange of ideas and promoting discussions on solving common problems and/or introduction of new approaches to members' work;

• responding to consultations from Government - either on behalf of members or by facilitating individual member responses;

• representing the interests of Drainage Authorities and other members nationally and locally, for example in relation to Bills in Parliament, other legislative measures, and local public inquiries;

• where appropriate, acting collaboratively with other bodies or institutions to pursue the Association's objectives;

• linking to Europe through ADA's membership of EUWMA, the European Union of Water Management Associations;

• obtaining and disseminating information on matters of importance and interest to members, and providing assistance on technical and administrative problems;

• organising exhibitions and demonstrations for the benefit of members;

• publishing the ADA Gazette four times per year;

• operating a website that assists members, stakeholders and the public in better understanding of members' work and the issues they have to tackle;

• publishing reports, bulletins and other information;

• arranging visits to places of interest.