Midlands water situation report: September 2024 summary
Updated 11 October 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-situation-local-area-reports/midlands-water-situation-report-september-2024-summary
Please see section 7.3 of the main report for a map detailing the Midlands regional coverage.
Rainfall - During September, the majority of hydrological catchments in the Midlands received exceptionally high rainfall totals, ranging from 193% to 331% of the long term average (LTA).
Soil moisture deficit - By the end of September, soil moisture deficit (SMD) has decreased across majority of the Midlands area, meaning soils are wetter than they were in August. Compared to the LTA, the majority of soils in September are wetter than expected for the time of year.
River flows - In September, 4 flow monitoring sites recorded exceptionally high monthly mean flows compared to the LTA. A further 4 recorded notably high, 9 recorded above normal and 3 recorded normal monthly mean flows relative to the LTA. One site, Wedderburn Bridge, had no suitable data for September.
Groundwater levels - As of the end of September, 4 groundwater monitoring sites recorded exceptionally high groundwater levels compared to the LTA. Three sites recorded notably high and 1 site recorded normal groundwater levels compared to the LTA.
Reservoir stocks - As of the end of September, the majority of the Midlands reservoirs recorded above average storage for the time of year. Since August, storage levels for the majority of reservoirs have decreased.
1. Rainfall
During September, the majority of Midlands’ hydrological catchments received exceptionally high rainfall totals, ranging from 193% to 331% of the LTA. The Welsh Mountains, situated in the west of the Midlands, was the only exception, receiving notably high rainfall totals of 149% of the LTA.
During the last 3 months, hydrological catchments in the Midlands received a variable amount of rainfall relative to the LTA. One hydrological catchment, the Lower Severn Estuary, received exceptionally high rainfall totals of 165% of the LTA. Three hydrological catchments received notably high rainfall totals compared to the LTA. These were the Shropshire Plains in the north-west of the Midlands and the Avon and Soar in the east of the Midlands. A further 6 hydrological catchments received above normal rainfall totals ranging from 122% to 148% of the LTA. These were the Derwent, Dove, Upper Trent, Tame, Mid-Severn and Lower Wye. Only 2 hydrological catchments in the Midlands received normal rainfall totals relative to the LTA. These were the Welsh Mountains in the west and the Lower Trent in the east of the Midlands.
Over the past 6 months, 2 hydrological catchments received notably high rainfall totals relative to the LTA. These were the Severn Estuary in the south of the Midlands and Shropshire Plains in the north-west of the Midlands. The remaining hydrological catchments in the Midlands received above normal rainfall totals, ranging from 116% to 132% of the LTA.
Over the last 12 months, all of the Midlands hydrological catchments received exceptionally high rainfall totals relative to the LTA. These rainfall totals ranged from 134% to 159% of the LTA.
2. Soil moisture deficit and recharge
By the end of September, SMD has decreased across majority of the Midlands area, meaning soils are wetter than they were in August. The only exception to the decrease was a small region in the west of the Midlands where no change in SMD was recorded. This is due to soils in that region already being saturated since August. By the end of the month, the majority of the Midlands had a SMD of less than or equal to 10mm, meaning soils are saturated.
Compared to the LTA, the majority of soils in September are wetter than expected for the time of year. Only a small area in the north-west of the Midlands had a -5mm to 5mm difference from the LTA. This means that SMD was as expected in this area for the time of year.
3. River flows
In September, 4 flow monitoring sites in the Midlands recorded exceptionally high monthly mean flows ranging from 231% to 415% of the LTA. These were Kegworth, Walcot, Stareton and Evesham. Kegworth on the River Soar recorded its highest ever September monthly mean flows compared to the historic record. Four monitoring sites recorded notably high monthly mean flows ranging from 163% to 175% of the LTA. These were Worksop, North Muskham, Great Bridgeford and Ebley Mill. A further 9 flow monitoring sites in the Midlands recorded above normal monthly mean flows ranging from 109% to 176% of the LTA. Auckley, Whatstandwell and Derby St Marys situated in the north-east of the Midlands recorded normal monthly mean flows relative to the LTA.
After the intense rainfall in September, data from Wedderburn Bridge is currently being investigated. As a result, we have no suitable data available from this site for September.
4. Groundwater levels
As of the end of September, groundwater levels recorded at monitoring sites were normal or above compared to the LTA. Coxmoor, Rider Point, Weir Farm and Anthony’s Cross recorded exceptionally high groundwater levels compared to the LTA. Three sites recorded notably high groundwater levels compared to the LTA. These were Four Crosses, Ram Hall and Crossley Hill in central, central-eastern and northern part of the Midlands, respectively. The remaining site, Southards Lane, recorded normal groundwater levels relative to the LTA.
5. Reservoir stocks
As of the end of September, the majority of the Midlands reservoirs recorded above average storage for the time of year. Elan, Charnwood and Derwent were the only reservoirs recording below average storage for the time of year.
Since August, storage levels for the majority of reservoirs have decreased. Storage levels for Vyrnwy, Blithfield and Charnwood have increased slightly and for the Dove, storage levels have remained the same since August.
6. River Severn operations
The River Severn is regulated to maintain a minimum flow at Bewdley gauging station. This ensures sufficient water flows along the river to support environmental and water supply requirements. Regulation is instigated when flows drop below a threshold.
The 2024 regulation season has seen only 7 days of river regulation, which commenced on 28 June 2024. The last day of regulation was 9 September 2024.
7. River Wye operations
For the majority of September, storage in the Elan Valley reservoirs were above the release control line and the flows at Redbrook gauging station were above the regulation threshold. However, regulation releases and environmental releases were still in operation for the majority of September due to the ‘agreed 7-day delay to reducing releases to the licensed compensation rate’.
As of 1 October 2024, storage in the Elan Valley reservoirs are above the release control line and the flows at Redbrook gauging station are above the regulation threshold. Therefore, regulation releases are not in operation.
8. Water abstraction restrictions
As of 1 October 2024, there are no water abstraction licence restrictions in place across the Midlands.
Author: Midlands Hydrology, midlandshydrology@environment-agency.gov.uk
Contact details: 03708 506 506
Disclaimer: All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or use of the information, or reliance upon views contained in this report.