“Extra pumps for four stations”: Somerset Levels and Moors briefing 14 December 2023
This is a briefing prepared on Thursday 14 December by local Environment Agency officers.
River levels are slowly dropping on the Somerset Levels and Moors, but the July to November period has been the fourth wettest since records began in 1871. Ground conditions are still wet and will remain responsive to further rainfall for some time to come.
The Environment Agency is therefore proactively installing extra pumps at several stations – Long Load, Midelney, North Drain and Northmoor – to increase its capacity to empty the moors ahead of any change in the weather.
Pictured at the top of this page: pump loading at the Environment Agency’s Bradney depot for deployment to Northmoor.
The Environment Agency is a partner in Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), along with Somerset Council, the Parrett and Axe Brue Internal Drainage Boards, Natural England, the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Wessex Water.
Current situation
It is an improving picture across all areas of the Somerset Levels and Moors, but there remains a lot of standing water in the moors and in low-lying areas. Drier weather this week has seen river levels slowly drop, which has allowed more pumping to take place in both the Axe/Brue and Parrett/Tone catchments. The forecast through the weekend remains mostly settled, with no significant rainfall totals expected. However, unsettled weather may return from Tuesday onwards.
November was the fifth consecutive month that the Wessex area received above average rainfall, making this the fourth wettest July to November period since records began in 1871. Ground conditions are still wet and will remain responsive to further rainfall for some time to come. With this in mind, we [=the Environment Agency] are proactively installing extra pumps at several stations to increase our capacity to empty the moors ahead of any change in the weather.
As well as the pumps currently being installed at Westover and Huish Episcopi, we’re also deploying extra pumps to increase capacity at Long Load, Midelney and North Drain pumping stations. In addition, pumps are being delivered to Northmoor pumping station today [14 December] and will be installed on Monday, weather depending. Installing these proactively means that we can minimise disturbance to the community in the lead up to the holiday period. There may be short periods of up to 15 minutes when traffic needs to be held on Huntworth Lane to allow for equipment movements. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
The emergency flood gates on Cutts Road, New Road and Langport Road remain closed by Somerset Council Highways. We continue to work closely with Somerset Council to monitor conditions on Law Lane at Muchelney, but water levels in this area are slowly dropping.
There are two flood warnings and three flood alerts in place for Somerset. For the most up to date information please check: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/alerts-and-warnings.
Outlook
Weather over the weekend is expected to be largely dry, but there are signals for a return to more unsettled weather from Tuesday onwards, when an area of persistent and potentially heavy rainfall looks likely to move across southern and central parts of England and Wales. There is a good chance unsettled conditions will return to all areas within 6-10 days from now.
Somerset Rivers Authority Flood Action Plan
Somerset Rivers Authority is a partnership of Flood Risk Management organisations in Somerset. They are currently reviewing their Flood Action Plan and are seeking views from members of the public about how to reduce the risks and impacts of flooding across Somerset over the next ten years. They are holding two online events in the New Year:
- Monday 8 January 2024 at 7pm – Have your say on Somerset Rivers Authority’s Strategy and Flood Action Plan Tickets, Mon 8 Jan 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
- Tuesday 9 January 2024 at 4pm – Have your say on Somerset Rivers Authority’s Strategy and Flood Action Plan Tickets, Tue 9 Jan 2024 at 16:00 | Eventbrite
See https://srastrategy.co.uk to contribute your views, or to find out more.
Flooding advice and information
Our advice to the public is to stay safe and not enter floodwater – just 30 cm of fast flowing water can move a car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.
Call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for updates on flooding, to sign up for flood warnings, or to report flooding.
Go to gov.uk/prepare-for-flooding or search ‘know my flood risk’ to sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings, receive information on the risk in your area and what to do in a flood.
Sign up for flood warnings at gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
Visit the Environment Agency website gov.uk/environment-agency which contains information on current river levels and flooding
Follow us on social media: facebook.com/environmentagencywessex
Or visit: www.somersetriversauthority.org.uk
What to do during a flood
Stay up-to-date on weather information and warnings: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/plan-ahead-for-flooding
Report current flooding to the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 0800 80 70 60 (main rivers or sea), Somerset Council 0300 123 2224 (ordinary watercourses) or Wessex Water (sewers) 0345 600 4600
Get information on what to do during a flood from:
http://www.somersetprepared.org.uk/hazard-advice/flooding
www.somersetriversauthority.org.uk/useful-info
Call 999 if there is a risk to life.
Remember: Always stay safe. In an immediate flood emergency or where there is a risk to life, follow the advice of the emergency services.
Recovery from Flooding
For information on recovering from flooding, see
How to recover from flooding – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Or https://floodmary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/homeowners-guide-to-flood-recovery.pdf
Somerset Council may be able to support with housing and welfare issues https://www.somerset.gov.uk/beaches-ports-and-flooding/flooding-information-and-advice/
Submit a detailed property flooding report at https://swim.geowessex.com/somerset
Flooding is very distressing, and it is common for people’s emotional health to be impacted. Somerset Talking Therapies may be able to offer help: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/somerset-talking-therapies/
For all enquiries, or if you would like to be added to the distribution list for Somerset Levels and Moors updates, please email WessexEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk