Environment Agency Issues Flood Warning for Groundwater Flooding in Wiltshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Level 2 Flood Warning for groundwater flooding for the Till in the Wessex area. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are currently causing flooding in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers parts of Wiltshire, including the following locations:

• Tilshead
• Orcheston
• Shrewton
• Berwick St James

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Prepare property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that any installed water pumps are functional and switched on.
• Consider alternative power sources to keep pumps running in the event of a power cut.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may experience inundation.
• Monitor cellars for signs of flooding.

Expected Conditions

While groundwater levels in Salisbury Plain are beginning to fall, they remain significantly high. The Tilshead borehole currently records a level of 98.29m and is expected to continue a slow decline. The weather forecast remains dry for the next five days, which may assist in the gradual reduction of water levels.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on March 19, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 23, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.