Policy paper

Thames: groundwater situation

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

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This document provides information on the groundwater situation for:

  • West Berkshire
  • Wiltshire
  • Surrey
  • Windsor
  • Maidenhead
  • North East Hampshire
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Vale of White Horse

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 authority 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.

Published 28 March 2014
Last updated 2024 January 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updating with briefing dated 24 January 2023.

  2. We have published an updated briefing note.

  3. We have published an updated briefing note.

  4. Updated groundwater situation 10 January 2023.

  5. Updated groundwater situation 4 January 2023.

  6. Update 04 May added.

  7. 20 April update added.

  8. Updated groundwater situation 29 March 2021

  9. 22 March groundwater situation update.

  10. Updated groundwater situation 15 March 2021.

  11. Updated groundwater situation 8 March 2021

  12. Updated groundwater situation 1 March 2021.

  13. Update groundwater situation 22 Feb.

  14. Updated groundwater situation 15 February 2021.

  15. Thames groundwater situation updated 08 Feb 2021.

  16. Updated groundwater situation 02 Feb 2021.

  17. Thames groundwater briefing note 25 January 2021

  18. Updated with briefing note 18 January 2021.

  19. Weekly update for 11 Januray 2021

  20. Update 6 January 2021 with latest briefing.

  21. Briefing note updated on 30 December 2020.

  22. New groundwater briefing note added.

  23. Update 01 June added - all alerts removed.

  24. Added 26 May 2020 update.

  25. 18 May update added.

  26. Updated 11 May 2020.

  27. Page updated with the latest briefing. In the Wycombe area including Radnage and the lower Hughenden Valley, the groundwater flood alert will be removed on Monday 4 May 2020.

  28. Updated with latest briefing 6 April 2020.

  29. Updated with briefing 30 March 2020

  30. Updated with latest briefing 23 March 2020.

  31. Briefing note added for 16 March 2020

  32. Briefing added for 10 March 2020

  33. Updated with briefing dated 2 March 2020.

  34. Updated with briefing dated 24 February 2020.

  35. Updated with latest briefing, 17 February 2020

  36. Updated with latest briefing 10 February 2020

  37. 03 February 2020 update

  38. Updated with latest situation and forecast 28 January 2020.

  39. Updated 21 January 2020 with current situation and forecast.

  40. Updated with briefing dated 13 January 2020.

  41. Briefing note dated 6 January 2020 added.

  42. Added the latest update (30 December 2019).

  43. Briefing note dated 23 December 2019 added.

  44. Latest information added - dated 16 Dec 19.

  45. Briefing note dated 10 Dec 2019 added

  46. 4 December update

  47. Thames West area groundwater update: 26 November 2019

  48. Latest briefing note 19 Nov 2019

  49. New report for 13 November added.

  50. Latest report added - 7 June 2018.

  51. Latest report added.

  52. Latest report added.

  53. 10 May report added.

  54. Updated groundwater briefing note.

  55. Latest document added.

  56. Added updated groundwater report.

  57. April 2018 report added.

  58. updated the PDF

  59. New report added.

  60. New report added.

  61. New briefing added.

  62. New report for November 2014 added.

  63. The latest update on monitored groundwater levels in the West Thames area.

  64. New briefing added on 22 May 2014.

  65. New briefing added for 16 May 2014.

  66. New data added for 9 May 2014.

  67. New briefing added for 2 May 2014.

  68. The latest briefing note for the West Thames area has been updated today - 25/04/2014

  69. New briefing for West Thames added 17 April 2014.

  70. New briefing for 11 April 2014.

  71. New briefing added for 11 April 2014.

  72. New PDF added for 4 April 2014.

  73. First published.