A report drawn up by an independent review body chaired by Prof Tom Coulthard, a professor of geography at Hull University, following the floods on June 25 says a revamp of the system six years ago "significantly reduced" its capacity from a one in 30-year storm event to a one in one-year or two-year event.

A temporary fix this year saw 40-year-old pumping stations brought back into use – but there were "serious operational issues" during the deluge. More than 20,000 people in Hull were affected by the flooding and five months on more than 1,400 people are still living in caravans.

The report says some of the houses could have been spared had warnings in 1996 and 2001 about the Bransholme pumping station – which failed at the height of the floods when storm waters rose six metres – resulted in action; or if permanent solutions which were suggested in 2004 and 2006 for east and west Hull had been acted upon.

It says: "The 2007 floods were severe but as many properties in Hull were only flooded by a few centimetres we conclude that had the recommendations for Bransholme and the rest of Hull been followed then some of the properties in Hull would not have flooded."

It says Yorkshire Water finally looks set to increase pumping capacity at east and west Hull, but questions why it took three years after a report first highlighted problems to act.

The report adds: "It would appear that Yorkshire Water have consistently taken the cheapest path available to them at the time."

It raises concerns that the watchdog Ofwat had "limited powers" to control water utilities over their arrangements for flooding and calls on the Government to set mandatory standards for flood protection.