Research and analysis

Wessex (Dorset and south Wiltshire): groundwater situation

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

From:
Environment Agency
Published
27 March 2014
Last updated
14 December 2020 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Wessex (Dorset and South Wiltshire) groundwater situation: 11 December 2020

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Details

This document provides information on the groundwater situation for Wessex: Dorset and south Wiltshire.

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 on the surface and flooding can happen.

Lead local flood authorities (the unitary or County Council) are responsible for managing the risk of flooding from groundwater. They set out how they plan to do this in their local flood risk management strategies.

The Environment Agency has a strategic overview for all sources of flooding including groundwater. This means they will provide support to other risk management authorities. 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.

Updates to this page

Published 27 March 2014
Last updated 14 December 2020 + show all updates

  1. Updated with December 2020 data and graphs.

  2. Groundwater situation report for 13 March added.

  3. Groundwater situation report for 11 February 2020 added.

  4. 29 January groundwater situation added

  5. Groundwater report for 13 December 2019 added.

  6. Report for November 2019 uploaded.

  7. Groundwater situation report for May 2018 added.

  8. Groundwater situation report for January 2018 added.

  9. Groundwater report for December added.

  10. Groundwater situation report for October 2017 added.

  11. Groundwater situation report for September 2017 added.

  12. Groundwater situation for June 2017 added.

  13. February report uploaded.

  14. January 2017 groundwater situation report added.

  15. December 2016 groundwater situation report added

  16. November 2016 situation report added.

  17. Groundwater situation report for March 2016 added in place of report for February 2016.

  18. Report for February added in place of January report.

  19. Updated with 11 January 2016 briefing note.

  20. Latest update added on the groundwater situation in Dorset and south Wiltshire.

  21. Latest groundwater situation report for November added.

  22. The latest update on monitored groundwater levels added.

  23. March update for Dorset and south Wiltshire added.

  24. Updated with February 2015 groundwater situation report for Wessex (Dorset and South Wiltshire)

  25. Groundwater situation report for 1 December 2014 added.

  26. Wessex groundwater situation updated

  27. June 2014 stats added for Dorset and south Wiltshire.

  28. First published.

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