Flooding

Please tell us what you think about our website, we welcome your feedback.

Customer notice

Due to essential maintenance some of our web services will be unavailable between these times 7pm Friday 25 May and 5pm Sunday 27 May 2012.

In case of any emergencies please see our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Flooding is a natural event and no drainage or flood protection system can give absolute protection. Flooding occurs in different ways such as heavy rainfall causing rivers and streams to fill beyond capacity and with nowhere else to go the floodwaters spread into the surrounding land.

Flash flooding can occur when thunderstorms or heavy rain falls over a short period of time, the ground cannot absorb this amount of water quickly enough, drainage systems are overwhelmed and flooding occurs. This flooding is normally short lived and often there is very little notice.

Within Wiltshire there are areas where the substructure of the land is made up of different layers of rock. These layers of rock hold water and are called aquifers. If it rains continously for a long period of time they discharge the excess water into streams. rivers and springs causing groundwater flooding. This type of flooding can occur days or weeks after the rain incident and is predicted by measuring groundwater levels.

The Environment Agency website can tell you more about different types of flooding.

Flood Watch

Flood Alert

This means that flooding is possible and you need to be prepared.

Flood Warning

This means that flooding is expected and you should take immediate actions. You should take action when a flood warning is issues and not wait for a severe flood warning.

Severe Flood Warning

This means there is severe flooding and danger to life. These are issued when flooding is posing a significant risk to life or disruption to communities.

Warnings no longer in force -

This means is no further flooding is forecast in your area.

More information about this flood warnings can be found on the Environment Agency website.

The Environment Agency is able to issue warnings several hours in advance of the possibility of river flooding using their automatic flood warning systems and by Radio and TV messages.

The automated telephone or fax warning system is available to householders whose property has been flooded in the past. You can also call the Floodline number to find out the latest information on river and coastal flooding. If you would like to request this service please contact:

Floodline on 08459 88 11 88

or contact them via the Environment Agency website

If you require further information or require assistance with flood defence or land drainage matters please complete the online form or contact Clarence.

Last updated: 21 May 2012