Collection

Groundwater: current status and flood risk

The latest updates on monitored groundwater levels and whether there are any groundwater alerts or warnings in force.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 28 March 2014
• Last updated: 16 March 2022 — See all updates

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.

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. They supply information in the form of monitored groundwater levels. In some areas that have historically experienced groundwater flooding, the Environment Agency provide a groundwater alert or warning service.

The Environment Agency also produce monthly water situation reports based on data provided by themselves, the Met Office and water companies.

Groundwater situation reports

• Hampshire: groundwater situation
  • 19 December 2024
  • Research and analysis
• Kent: groundwater situation
  • 20 December 2024
  • Research and analysis
• South London: groundwater situation
  • 20 December 2024
  • Research and analysis
• Sussex: groundwater situation
  • 20 December 2024
  • Research and analysis
• Thames: groundwater situation
  • 18 December 2024
  • Policy paper
• Wessex (Dorset and south Wiltshire): groundwater situation
  • 14 December 2020
  • Research and analysis
• Hertfordshire and North London: groundwater situation
  • 9 May 2024
  • Research and analysis

Published 28 March 2014
Last updated 16 March 2022 + show all updates

1. 16 March 2022

   Links updated for Kent and S London groundwater pages

2. 18 January 2022

   Kent and S London groundwater January 2022 updates added.

3. 4 November 2021

   Out-of-date reports for Chesham Vale, Kimpton and Lilley Bottom and Flamstead deleted 04/11/21

4. 19 March 2021

   Flamstead, Lilley Bottom and Chesham groundwater reports updated.

5. 18 January 2021

   Herts and N London groundwater report added to collection.

6. 14 June 2018

   June report for Wessex uploaded.

7. 4 January 2017

   Kent and South London December reports added

8. 11 November 2016

   Wessex groundwater report for November added.

9. 25 March 2015

   Hampshire groundwater briefing updated on 20 March 2015

10. 6 March 2015

    March update for Dorset and south Wiltshire added.

11. 5 February 2015

    February 2015 update for Wessex (Dorset and South Wiltshire) added.

12. 4 December 2014

    Groundwater updated added for Dorset and south Wiltshire.

13. 25 November 2014

    New West Thames report added for November 2014.

14. 18 November 2014

    Added Hampshire groundwater report.

15. 17 June 2014

    New groundwater stats added for Dorset and south Wiltshire.

16. 10 June 2014

    Hampshire briefing removed as no longer in force.

17. 16 May 2014

    New Kimpton, Hertfordshire, briefing added on 15 May 2014.

18. 17 April 2014

    Added new West Thames briefing for 17 April 2014.

19. 28 March 2014

    First published.