Flood Warden Newsletter – Autumn 2024

Welcome to the Flood Warden Autumn Newsletter 2024

November marks the bicentennial of the great gale of 1824, where hurricane force winds and a storm surge caused significant impacts and loss of life along the South coast. It was an extreme and rare event, and based on the levels reached, we calculate that it has a likelihood of recurrence of 1 in 10,000 each year (0.01% chance).

Dorset Coast Forum are working in collaboration with Environment Agency and BCP Council to bring together a free public exhibition that explores the impacts The Great Gale of 1824 left on the Dorset Coast.  For more information, see https://www.dorsetcoast.com/great-gale/.

Our ability to predict severe weather has come on leaps and bounds since 1824, and there’s no doubt that many lives have been saved by early warnings since then. September has demonstrated how important this is, with extreme events happening around the world. The cost in lives and damage is still being counted from Storm Boris in Europe, Typhoon Yagi in Asia, and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in North America; Nigeria is experiencing a major humanitarian crisis, with as many as two million people displaced by record rainfall.

Most commonly when records are broken, it is through an incremental increase. But we are increasingly seeing records being ‘smashed’ – for example, in Austria’s recent floods, new records were twice as high as previous ones. “To see records being broken by such large margins, that is really the fingerprint of climate change,” said Friederike Otto, climatologist at Imperial College London. We need to be more prepared than ever for these extreme events.

In this world of increased flood risk, the systems and processes in place for forecasting and planning for flooding events are crucial. We work with our partners through Local Resilience Forums to alert and inform individual homes, communities, businesses and partner organisations about flood risk. We provide flood risk mapping for long term planning, and the Flood Warning service and River Level service give real time information about flood impacts.

We’ll look in more detail at these services, as well as Met Office warnings, in this issue of the Flood Wessex newsletter. We also have news about upcoming resilience events and partner projects, as well as the usual water situation report.

In this Issue

• The Environment Agency’s Flood Warning Service
• Next Warning Service
• Met Office Severe Weather Warnings
• Online Lunch and Learn Flood Warden Sessions
• The Great Gale Commemoration Exhibition
• Salisbury’s Environment Action Flood Event
• Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Conference 2024
• Flood Action Week 2024
• Environment Agency Recovery Work
• Rural Flood Resilience Partnership
• Dorset Rural Run-off Project
• Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report
• Climate Adaptation Plans
• Wells Environment Network Eco Week
• Flood & Watercourse workshops
• Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Award
• Video Resources
• Water Situation Report
• Useful Information

Flooding Information and Support

The Environment Agency’s Flood Warning Service (FWS)

As flood wardens, community leaders, and trusted messengers, your knowledge about flood warnings is critical in helping the wider community understand potential impacts.

Creating a system that can warn about different types of flood risk is a complex task – warnings need to be delivered with as much lead time as possible, but also with as much certainty as possible to avoid false alarms. The Flood Resilience Team look after the Flood Warning Service and are responsible for setting procedures and trigger levels. You can help make warnings as accurate as possible by reporting flooding. If you feel warnings are being issued too often or not often enough, provide your feedback to the local office at wessexenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

We have a team of Flood Warning Duty Officers (FWDOs) on duty 24/7, 365 days a year, monitoring weather forecasts and levels, and issuing alerts and warnings according to expected impacts. There are three levels of warning: Alert, Warning and Severe Warning.

Flood Alerts

For river flooding, a flood alert area covers a cluster of river catchments that respond in a similar way to rainfall in the same geographical area. Alerts are usually based on a forecast, so our systems use rainfall totals to forecast how much a river may respond rather than being based on a river level being reached. Coastal flood alerts are 100% forecast led. A coastal flood alert area contains a stretch of the coastline; the trigger is based on a combination of forecast tide and wave height, wind speed and direction.

A flood alert is issued when flooding is possible, and you should prepare now. It is based on low flood impacts, for example bank-full conditions, floodplain inundation, flooding of low-lying land, minor roads and farmland for rivers, or in coastal areas, spray and wave overtopping, and minor road or surface water flooding linked to tidal flooding.

We aim to issue flood alerts during waking hours (0600-2100) so customers can take any necessary actions and aren’t woken up in the night for this lower level of warning. We aim for a lead time between 2 and 12 hours before flooding for rivers, or 4 to 6 hours for coastal flood risk, although we may issue a message the day before a tide is expected to reach flood alert level, or where levels are forecast to be reached in the evening or overnight.

With a forecast-led flood warning service, there are times where we receive a different amount of rainfall than expected, or wind speed and/or direction changes in the lead up to high tide. This can mean the rivers respond less than anticipated, or expected flood levels on the coast are not reached. For coastal areas, we may receive an updated forecast which triggers the flood alert, but provides less than 4-6 hours lead time.

Flood Warnings

A river flood warning area either extends from an upstream location to a downstream location, or is community based. A coastal flood warning area is community based, and as with alerts, coastal warnings are forecast led.

Flood warnings are issued when flooding is expected, and you should take action now. They are based on high flood impacts, such as flooding to property and disruption to major roads and infrastructure. For rivers, we aim to typically give 2 hours lead time to communities, which means there should be 2 hours between receiving a flood warning message and the first property to flood. However, in rapid response catchments the lead time may be as little as 30 minutes. We aim to give around 4-6 hours lead time to communities at coastal flood risk, although this can be more as we often issue a message in the afternoon prior to an evening’s tide that is forecast to reach flood warning level, and the following morning’s tide that is also due to reach flood warning level.

As with alerts, the parameters which are used to forecast a coastal flood warning such as wind speed and/or direction may change in the lead up to high tide, which can mean a flood warning may be issued with less than 4-6 hours lead time.

Severe Flood Warnings

Severe flood warnings can be issued to the same area as a flood warning area, and mean that flooding could cause danger to life and/or significant disruption to communities, and you must act now. A severe flood warning could be accompanied by an Emergency Alert, which is a government service to warn of a danger to life nearby. In an emergency your mobile phone will receive an alert with advice on how to stay safe.

For severe flood warning for rivers, the decision to issue can be informed by on the ground feedback of the flood impacts. However, for coastal locations, a severe flood warning will be based on a forecast, which as previously mentioned can change, so there may be very little lead time from receiving a message and the time of high tide.

Groundwater Flood Warnings

Flooding from groundwater can happen when the level of water within the rock or soil that makes up the land surface (known as the water table) rises. The level of the water table changes with the seasons due to variations in long term rainfall and water abstraction. When the water table rises and reaches ground level, water starts to emerge at spring lines, and flooding can happen. In Wessex, areas with an underlining chalk geology are most at risk from groundwater flooding, which mainly affects communities in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Lead local flood authorities (the unitary or County Council) are responsible for managing the risk of flooding from groundwater. The Environment Agency has a strategic overview for all sources of flooding including groundwater. This means we provide support to other risk management authorities and in some areas, like Wessex, provide a groundwater flood warning service.

The groundwater flood warning service has several different levels, much like the Fluvial and Coastal services, with both Flood Alerts and Flood Warnings issued for groundwater. Groundwater flood alerts are issued when flooding is possible, and that you should prepare for possible flooding. In the case of groundwater this could be to ensure that property level protection measures, such as pumps, are in good working order and set up ready for use.

Groundwater flood warnings are issued when flooding is expected, indicating that action should be taken now. It is likely that, along with property flooding, roads will be become flooded or even impassable. Consider planning alternate routes if you know roads are liable to flooding.

Groundwater levels are monitored on a daily basis using a network of boreholes across Wessex. We often see a response in groundwater levels several days after heavy rainfall, as it can take a while for rainfall to percolate down into the water table.

The Next Warning Service (NWS)

The Next Warning Service (NWS) is an Environment Agency project to build a replacement Flood Warning System, to future proof this essential public digital service for the next 10 years.  So, what is the NWS?

• The NWS will achieve the same results as the Flood Warning System (FWS) with a fresh new user experience.
• NWS will offer the same reliable and effective functionality as FWS, but we will work closely with those users that receive our warnings to improve the messages and inspire more people to take action.
• NWS will continue to send direct messages as a telephone call, text message and email message.
• NWS will continue to provide information to our Floodline telephone service and our Check for flooding pages on GOV.uk
• Our assisted non-digital registration process will go through our Floodline telephone service or via our local Flood Resilience teams.
• Some improvements to the sign up to flood warning process on GOV.uk will include more choice over the type of message a customer can receive, new map features to locate places of interest and more choice over which locations they want to receive warnings for. The number of contacts to receive our messages on will also increase.

The project team are keen to receive feedback from future users of the NWS so please contact us if you would like to participate in any potential user research at floodwessex@environment-agency.gov.uk

Met Office Severe Weather Warnings

The Met Office issues weather warnings, which warn of impacts caused by severe weather.

They provide warnings up to seven days ahead for rain, thunderstorms, wind, snow, lightning, ice, extreme heat and fog and warnings can be issued at any time, day or night.

Each warning will contain the following sections:

• Headline – a short weather headline, which states what weather type, is forecast
• What to expect – details on the types of impact forecast and an indication of how likely those impacts are
• What should I do – this section links to advice and guidance from our partners on how to stay safe in severe weather
• Further details – additional information on the forecast weather.

These warnings are given a colour (yellow, amber or red) depending on a combination of both the impact the weather may have and the likelihood of those impacts occurring.

Yellow and Amber warnings represent a range of impact levels and likelihoods. This means it is important to read each warning to know what level of impact you can expect for your chosen warning area – and how likely those impacts are to occur.

The combination of impact and likelihood is shown in a matrix, which can be seen in the Further Details section of the warnings.

To find out more and to find out how to access Met Office weather warnings including signing up to receive email alerts visit: www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/guides/warnings

Environment Agency News and Events

Online Lunch and Learn Flood Warden Sessions

Thanks to all who have attended our online lunch and learn sessions so far – they have been a great success, and we have two more sessions planned over the next couple of months.

Flood Plans & Flood Warden Action Cards – Thursday,17 October, 12.30 – 13.00 (online)
Join us for an open session – speak to us if you want any assistance developing or reviewing your plan; hear about some of the good examples and templates available and check out our simple and effective Flood Warden Action Card that can be easily adapted for your community.

Online Flood Information and Warnings – Thursday, 21 November, 12.30 – 13.00  (online)
We will take you on a tour of www.gov.uk/check-flooding where you can check current flood risk, 5 day flood risk, current flood alerts and warnings, find river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels in your area, check long term flood risk from main river, sea and surface water and how to make sure you are signed up to receive the correct Flood Alerts and Flood Warnings for your community as a Flood Warden.

Please e-mail us at floodwessex@environment-agency.gov.uk if you would like to attend any of the above sessions.

The Great Gale Commemoration Exhibition

On the night of 22^nd November 1824, a storm of unprecedented ferocity hit the Dorset coast, flooding many houses, destroying villages in its path and claiming many lives during the two days that it besieged the coast. Now, 200 years on, Dorset Coast Forum in collaboration with the Environment Agency and BCP council bring together a free public exhibition that explores the impacts The Great Gale of 1824 left on the Dorset Coast.

The exhibition will feature personal stories and accounts from 1824, delve into the reasons behind the storm and discuss how we can predict and prepare for possible similar future events. The free exhibition starts at Weymouth Library on Friday 25^th October, and travels across 5 locations on the Dorset coast including Lyme Regis, West Bay, and Poole, ending on Portland on 24^th November. The village of Chiswell, Portland was partly demolished by the hurricane-force storm and 25 lives were lost during the storm. To commemorate those affected, Dorset Coast Forum are working with Portland based arts company, B-side, to bring a host of events on Portland. For further information, dates and venues for the exhibition please visit www.dorsetcoast.com/great-gale/

Salisbury’s Environment Action Flood Event

Come and join us at the Flood Action event being hosted in Salisbury where you will have the opportunity to speak with professionals about ways you can be better aware, planned and prepared for flooding.  There will be a number of stalls with representatives from Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, Environment Agency and other partners together with a selection of professionals who can advise on flood resilience measures.  The event is open to everyone and happens to coincide with the Market Day which is held right in front of the Guildhall, so it’s another good reason to come along.

Lisa from our Flood Resilience Team will be on the Environment Agency stall, so please come along and speak with her if you want to talk about the Flood Warden role and any information or guidance which could be of help in your community. 

Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Conference 2024

Wednesday 6 November 2024, Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Football Club

9.45am-4pm

Free lunch provided

This interactive and informative day offers a range of workshops, talks, demos and 1:1 support with experts in a range of resilience topics. We are delighted to have Flood Mary join us with her Floodhub – where you can see property flood resilience kit and get top tips from this world-renowned expert.

Workshops across the day include sessions on Mapping your Watercourses, A Community View on Emergency Planning, Using Emergency Power Back-up Systems, Finding Funds for Community Projects and more. The Environment Agency will offer a workshop on the world of planning and flooding, a presentation from Coastal expert John Buttivant, and our Flood Resilience Team and Property Flood Resilience team will be on hand to offer advice. Stallholders who are there to chat to you and share expertise will include Somerset Rivers Authority, Somerset Council, the Environment Agency, Avon and Somerset Police, the Farming and Wildlife advisory Group SW, Trading Standards, EVAG – the Emergency Volunteer Action group, and many more.

For more information email somersetprepared@somerset.gov.uk

Flood Action Week 2024

Did you know that 14-20 October is ‘Flood Action Week’?

This year’s awareness campaign coincides with the one-year anniversary of Storm Babet, which brought significant flooding across the country. As climate change brings more extreme weather, there has already been flooding this autumn. This follows the wettest 18 months on record in England up to February 2024.  

This campaign is all about showing people that they can easily take a few steps to reduce the devastation caused by floods to their homes and businesses, with around 5.5 million properties in England at risk from flooding. Recent data suggests that nearly half the country is unsure of how to find information on local flood risks, making this campaign all the more important. 

The best way to protect yourself from flooding is early preparation and knowing what to do in advance. You can help raise awareness of some of the actions people can take to reduce the dangers:   

• Check your long-term flood risk. You can use this free service to find out the long-term flood risk for an area in England, the possible causes of flooding, and how to manage flood risk.
• Sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email
• Take steps to protect yourself from future flooding – including storing important documents in a secure, waterproof location, taking rugs and small furniture upstairs, checking how to turn off your electricity and water, preparing a flood kit.
• Explore longer-term Property Flood Resilience measures (PFR) to protect homes and businesses.

Environment Agency Recovery Work

Following flooding, depending on the scale and nature of a flood, the Environment Agency will sometimes set out a Recovery and Preparedness Programme to focus on the impacts and coordinate our recovery activity. Following the widespread flooding in Wessex in Winter 22/23, a programme and team for recovery was set out from April 2023. This programme was extended following summer flash flooding and the flooding across Wessex in Winter 23/24.

Our recovery programme came to an end this month and remaining work was handed over to our usual teams. You can see a summary of some of the work that’s been carried out since April 2023 in the infographic above. There are some remaining recovery projects which are still ongoing such as bank repairs on the River Parrett and repairs to flood gates in Portland and West Bay.

Rural Flood Resilience Partnership

With rural communities increasingly on the frontline of extreme weather and the devastating impacts of flooding, a unique partnership has been launched to support rural flood resilience and help farmers and communities adapt to a changing climate. The partnership has published its work plan for 2024 to 2026.

For more information visit: www.gov.uk/government/news/rural-flood-resilience-partnership-launched-to-help-farmers-and-rural-communities-adapt-to-a-changing-climate

Partner Updates

Dorset Rural Run-off Project

Dorset Council’s Flood Risk Management team with support from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) are engaging agricultural landowners in discussions about sustainable land drainage management practices. The primary focus is to reduce surface water and sediment runoff, which can lead to increased flooding risks in surrounding communities. By bringing together these stakeholders, with funding secured over a three-year period the initiative aims to explore more environmentally friendly approaches that balance agricultural productivity with environmental protection.

A key part of these discussions revolves around the implementation of nature-based interventions, such as creating buffer zones, planting cover crops, slowing flow, changing farm practices, and restoring wetlands. These measures not only help absorb and slow down excess water but also improve soil health and biodiversity. By reducing the volume and speed of water runoff, these interventions play a crucial role in mitigating flood risks, ensuring that both farmers and communities benefit from a more resilient and sustainable landscape.

Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report

Hundreds of places across Somerset are included in the newly published Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Annual Report 2023-24, all sites where the SRA funded works to reduce the risks and impacts of flooding.

The report describes a wide range of schemes and activities, right down to individual streets, streams, fields and culverts.

In his foreword to the report, the SRA Chair, Councillor Mike Stanton, notes that “2023-24 showed climate change intensifying flooding problems across our county, lashing with more force and unpredictability.”

Total SRA spend during 2023-24 was just over £3.8million.

Of particular interest to flood wardens may be the report’s Building Local Resilience section. This highlights grants awarded for equipment and training, the design and installation of localised flood warning systems, plus numerous sessions about emergency preparedness, tailored by the SRA’s community engagement officers to specific local flood risks and concerns. As Councillor Stanton mentions, the SRA is also planning to trial a small grants scheme for Somerset communities.

You can read the Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report 2023-24 on the SRA website.
Or get an illustrated 48-page PDF: Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report 2023-24 (10MB).
Or a 35-page text only version: Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report 2023-24 (0.3MB).

Climate Adaptation Plans continue to rollout for communities with Somerset Wildlife Trust

The impacts of the climate emergency are already unfolding. As well as rising sea levels, Somerset is likely to experience more flooding, extreme heat, droughts and wildfires. Thankfully, there are many ways that communities can act together to be better prepared for the changes and build a positive future where people and nature can thrive.

Funded by the Somerset Rivers Authority, Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) has been raising awareness of adaptation and encouraging communities across the county to develop Climate Adaptation Plans! This plan shares the key priorities and adaptation actions chosen by the community, such as adapting to flood risks, and offers advice on how to make these actions happen.

With a successful August launch in Glastonbury, SWT are now starting the Act to Adapt process in more communities, including Martock and the surrounding area, Spaxton, and Wells.

If you are a local to Wells, come join us at our two upcoming events:

Wednesday 16th Oct – Workshop at Wells Town Hall (Parkes Room)

Act to Adapt: Collaborating for Wells | Somerset Wildlife Trust

Saturday 2nd Nov – Consultation at the Christmas Artisan Market

A Consultation for Wells - Christmas Artisan Market | Somerset Wildlife Trust

Wells Environment Network Eco Week – Flooding workshops and talks

Living with Watercourses

Saturday 12 October 2024, 11.00 – 12.00, Wells Town Hall, Market Square, Wells, Somerset 

Discover what living with watercourses truly means for you in this enlightening session led by Dr. Paul Elliston and Dr. Bel Deering from the Somerset Rivers Authority and Somerset Council.

Floods, Farms and Food - How can we build resilience together?

Friday, 11 October 2024, 19.00  21.00, Cedars Hall, 15 The Liberty, Wells, England, BA5 2ST

A panel of six speakers will share their perspectives on pressing environmental challenges, including: Adapting to and mitigating flood risks; Restoring and preserving biodiversity; Revitalising soil health through regenerative farming; and Enhancing food security by relocalising our food systems.

How to Make Your Home Flood Resilient

Saturday, 12 October 2024, 10.00 -11.00, Wells Town Hall, Market Square, Wells, Somerset

Join Flood Mary, a seasoned advocate and advisor for flood victims, as she shares her invaluable insights on safeguarding your home against flooding.

For more information and to book a place please follow this link: Events — Wells Environmental Network (wenvironment.org.uk)

Rivers and Rhynes, Ditches and Drains: what living by a watercourse means for you

Monday 21 October 2024

7pm-9pm

Cranmore Memorial Hall

If water flows within, next to or even under your property or land then this interactive workshop is for you. We 'll cover what extra rights this might give you as well as discuss where responsibilities lie.

Free event – no booking required

For more information email Paul.elliston@somerset.gov.uk

Flood Workshops and Support with Somerset Rivers Authority & Somerset Council

Library Workshops

Wednesday 30 October

10am- 4pm

Glastonbury Library

Saturday 30 November

10am-12pm

Langport Library

Join Somerset Rivers Authority for these free and fun family sessions which cover important topics such as flood safety and flood resilience using stories, clay and crafts. We will also have an information stand for anyone wanting to know more about household emergency plans and property flood resilience equipment.

For more information, please contact Bel.deering@somerset.gov.uk

Flood Café

Friday 22 November

10am-12pm

Bishop’s Palace, Wells

The Flood Cafe offers floodees, flood-affected people and those worried about future flooding the chance to gather, drink tea, and discuss flooding topics in a friendly, relaxed setting. This gathering is not counselling but a space for open dialogue, discussion and mutual support. Free Event – includes light refreshments

If you have any questions, please contact Bel.deering@somerset.gov.uk

Primary School Assemblies and Workshops

Somerset Rivers Authority and Somerset Council also offers a free interactive workshop and assembly on flooding and flood safety for primary schools. To find out more or book a session please follow this link https://forms.office.com/e/s0MkUUxYyz or email Bel.deering@somerset.gov.uk

Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Award

Do you know an unsung hero who has helped to make your community more resilient? Or a group that has gone above and beyond to champion community resilience in Somerset? Somerset Prepared Partnership is inviting nominations for the 2024 awards. Winners will be announced at the Somerset Community Resilience Day on 6th November at Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Club. Nominations close 22 October; find out more at Somerset Community Resilience Award – Somerset Prepared

Video Resources

Property Flood Resilience expert Mary Long-Dhonau OBE has released a new video, looking at how you might use simple items from around the home or low-cost items to reduce the impact of flooding in your home: Preparing for a flood (youtube.com). Mary will be visiting Somerset in November as part of the Somerset Prepared annual community resilience day.

One of the most important messages about flooding is ‘don’t drive through floodwater’. It’s the leading cause of death during flooding. American country singer / songwriter Matt Hawk has written a song delivering this crucial message with a catchy tune: Turn Around, Don't Drown PSA by Matt Hawk (weather.gov).

Water Situation Report

Water Situation Report – June,  July and August 2024

Flood alerts and warnings issued in total, across Wessex, for June, July, August and September 2024:

In June, an average of 21mm of rain fell across Wessex in June (35% of the LTA) with 77% of the monthly total rainfall, falling on just three days, June 15 to 18. The low levels of rainfall made it the 16th driest June since our records began in 1871. The majority of areas across Wessex recorded a range in soil moisture deficit (SMD) of 41-70mm. In terms of river flows, most sites to the north and west of Wessex reported normal flows in June 2024. The sites within the chalk aquifer reported above normal and notably high flows in line with groundwater levels. The groundwater levels varied across Wessex in June from normal to exceptionally high. In Dorset the levels were mainly notably/exceptional high, whereas in Wiltshire levels were mainly above normal. Reservoir levels in Wessex decreased over the month of June, with Wessex Water reporting reservoirs at approximately 89% capacity by the end of the month, which is similar to this time last year. Bristol Water reported reservoirs levels at approximately 86% capacity by the end of June, which is also similar to this time last year.

In July , an average of 79mm of rain fell across Wessex in July (151% of the LTA). Recorded monthly rainfall ranged from 115% to 221% of the July LTA with the lowest relative rainfall recorded in the Mendips and River Chew and the highest in the West Dorset Streams. In total, 61% of the month’s total rainfall fell between 5 July and 8 July. SMD in Wessex initially decreased for the first couple of weeks of July, before increasing again for the remainder of the month. In July, the majority of river flows to the north and west of Wessex reported normal or above normal mean monthly flows. Groundwater levels at the end of July varied between normal and exceptionally high across Wessex. Reservoir levels in Wessex continued to decrease throughout July. At the end of the month, Wessex Water reported reservoirs at approximately 76% capacity which is very similar to this time last year. Bristol Water reported reservoir levels of approximately 75% capacity at the end of July which is approximately 5% lower than this time last year.

In August, an average of 44mm of rain fell across Wessex in August (67% of the LTA). Recorded monthly rainfall ranged from 21% to 92% of the August LTA. SMD in Wessex continued to increase for the majority of August, before beginning to decrease towards the end of the month in response to rainfall. In August, river flow to the northwest of Wessex largely reported below normal monthly mean flows, most sites recorded flows peaking around 24 August following three days of high rainfall. Groundwater levels at the end of August varied between normal and notably high across Wessex, the two most southern sites Kingston Russell Road and Delcombe recorded above normal levels, whereas most of the northern sites recorded normal levels at the end of August. Reservoir levels in Wessex continued to decrease throughout August. At the end of the month, Wessex Water reported reservoirs at approximately 63% capacity which is approximately 6% lower than this time last year. Bristol Water reservoir levels were approximately 61% capacity at the end of August which is approximately 16% lower than this time last year.

Over the past 12 months, almost all of Wessex received exceptionally high rainfall due to the wet winter and spring. This has been the second wettest 12-month period (September to August) since records began in 1871.

Useful Information

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