Dorset & South Wiltshire
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Groundwater Situation Report Wessex (Dorset & South Wiltshire) Update 12th September 2017 Current situation Current forecast risk of groundwater flooding There are currently no groundwater flood alerts for Salisbury Plain, Cranborne Chase and the West of Dorset. The latest summary of the water situation in the South West, giving details of the rainfall, groundwater levels and river flows, can found on the GOV.UK website. The link to these pages is below: August finished much drier than it started. Overall for the month the long term average (LTA) for August was ‘normal’ at 95% LTA, 62 mm. The rivers responded well to the rainfall and most flows reflect the geographical distribution of the rainfall, drier in the north and west and wetter in the south and east. Most rivers are now ‘normal’ for the time of year though South Newton on the groundwater dominated Chalk is ‘below normal’ for the time of year. The groundwater sites show a mixed response with some groundwater sites responding to the wetter than average summer, 134% LTA, whilst others on the Chalk and Greater Oolite are still ‘notably low. Several boreholes have received significant recharge this month and were still increasing at month end others while still receding are doing so at a lower rate. Sites on the Greater Oolite and Chalk are ‘notably low’ for the time of year. Many others are ‘normal’ with the exception of Kingston Russell Road, situated in the West Dorset catchment, which was ‘notably high’. In the West of Dorset, the level at the Kingston Russell borehole, on 12/09/2017, was 105.760 metres above sea level (mAOD). The level was 105.880 this time last year. The borehole is currently classed as "notably high" and has reacted to recent rainfall. www.gov.uk/environment-agency In Cranborne Chase, the current level, at the West Woodyates borehole, is 74.880 mAOD. This is approximately 1.92 metres above the level at this time last year. In January 2014, the borehole reached its highest ever recorded level of 109mAOD. The borehole is currently classed as "normal". On Salisbury Plain, the current level in the Tilshead borehole, is 80.56 mAOD, which is 4mAOD below the level as last year. The borehole is currently classed as "below normal". The level on the 12/09/2016 was 81.193 mAOD. www.gov.uk/environment-agency Forecast risk of flooding More details of the predictions can be found in the monthly Water Situation Report for England. This can be found at: Monthly Water Situation Report - England What we are doing For several years we have been able to issue groundwater flood alerts across the area. The three alert areas are the West of Dorset, Cranborne Chase and Salisbury Plain. The flood alert is an early warning about the potential for flooding to occur. We are continuing to develop new groundwater flood warning areas across Dorset and Wiltshire. So far we have developed 36 groundwater flood warning areas and are working with communities to expand the service to other locations. The groundwater flood warnings cover smaller areas than the flood alerts. A flood warning is used to warn people that flooding is expected. Please check to see whether your area is covered by a groundwater flood warning area. We are working on a five year programme to develop a groundwater flood warnings service for groundwater affected communities across Wiltshire and Dorset. If you have any knowledge of historic or recent groundwater flooding within your community, please contact [email protected]. The following new groundwater flood warning area are to be activated in October 2018: The Allen at Sixpenny Handley The Allen at Witchampton The Allen at Monkton Up Wimborne and Wimborne St Giles The Win at Wool The Bere Stream at Bere Regis South Wiltshire Downs - The Chilmark stream South Wiltshire Downs - The Dinton and Baverstock South Wiltshire Downs - The Teffont South Wiltshire Downs - The Dene The Wylye Valley The Wylye Valley at Wilton The Wylye Valley at Warminster The current groundwater flooding warning areas are: The Bourne Valley • The Collingbournes including, Aughton, Collingbourne Kingston, Collingbourne Ducis • North of the A303, including Tidworth, Shipton Bellinger • Winterbornes and Salisbury including Cholderton, Newton Tony, Allington, Idmiston, Porton, Winterborne Gunner, Winterborne Earls, Laverstock River Till and Chitterne • The Till including Tilshead, Orcheston, Shrewton, Winterborne Stoke, Berwick St James and Stapleford • The Chitterne including Chitterne, Codford St Peter and Codford St Mary www.gov.uk/environment-agency The Ebble • Ebble Valley including Berwick St John, Ebblesbourne Wake, Bowerchalke, Broad Chalke, Stoke Farthing, Bishopstone, Stratford Toney, Coombe Bissett, Homington, Odstock, Nunton • The Cranborne Chase in West Hampshire including Martin, Damerham, Sandleheath, Rockbourne, Whitsbury, Fordingbridge, Breamore Vale of Allen • The Allen including Sixpenny Handley, Wimborne St Giles, Witchampton and parts of Wimborne • The Crane including Pentridge, Cranborne, Edmondsham • The Crichel including Chettle, Long Crichel, Moor Crichel • The Gussage including Tollard Royal, Farnham, Michington, Cashmoor, Gussage St Michael and Gussage All Saints • The Pimperne Brook at Pimperne • The Tarrants' including Stubhampton, Tarrant Gunville, Tarrant Hinton, Tarrant Monkton, Tarrant Rawston, Tarrant Rushton, Tarrant Keyneston and Tarrant Crawford • The Iwerne including Sutton Waldron, Iwerne Minster, Iwerne Courtney, Shroton and Stourpaine North Winterborne • The North Winterborne, south of the A354 including Winterborne Whitechurch, Kingston, Zelston, Newton Peveril • The North Winterborne, north of the A354 including Turnworth, Winterborne Stickland, Houghton, Clenston, Whatcombe, Whitechurch Frome and Piddle • River Piddle including Alton Pancras, Piddletrentide, White Lackington, Piddlehinton, Puddletown, Athelhampton • Bere Stream including Hilton, Milton Abbas, and Milborne St Andrew • Cerne including Minterne Magna, Minton Parva, Cerne Abbas, Nether Cerne, Godmanston, Forston, Charminster • Devils Brook including Ansty, Cheselbourne, and Dewlish • Hooke including Toller Whelme, Hooke and Toller Porcorum • Sydling including Up Sydling, Sydling Nicholas South Winterborne Valley • South Winterbourne including Kingston Russell, Winterbourne Abbas, Steepleton, Martinstown, W. Monkton, W. Herringston, W. Came, West Stafford We are also asking for parishes susceptible to groundwater flooding for any information they may have to help us to refine and develop our groundwater flood warning service. If you have any photos, maps and data you would like to provide please email: [email protected] To find out if you are at risk and to register to receive these flood alerts and flood warnings for groundwater, call Floodline on 0345 988 118 (24 hour service) or go online at www.gov.uk/environment- agency www.gov.uk/environment-agency Actions and advice • Think and prepare now for what you'll do if flooding occurs where you live, don't wait until flooding happens • If you have a personal flood plan you should put it into action • Move valuables from basements and cellars • If you have a pump ensure it is serviced and working effectively • Keep drains and gullies around your property free of debris • You may need to improve surface water drainage and/or install and assess sump pumping arrangements • Visit the Environment Agency website for local water levels and flooding information www.gov.uk/environment-agency • If you own part of the river bank you should keep the banks and bed of the river clear of debris We are encouraging parishes at risk to develop a Community Flood Plan, identifying local issues and working with the different agencies to prepare and respond to flooding Next update The next update will be in mid October unless the situation changes. Further information To see the current status of the flood alert for Salisbury Plain follow the link: Groundwater on Salisbury Plain To see the current status of the flood alert for Cranborne Chase follow the link: Groundwater on Cranborne Chase To see the current status of the flood alert for the West of Dorset follow the link: Groundwater in West Dorset Contacts If you would like any further information on groundwater levels in the area please contact us by emailing [email protected] . Please use this email to report incidences of groundwater flooding. Alternatively ring Floodline 0345 988 118 or the National Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 www.gov.uk/environment-agency .