Flood Alert Issued for Groundwater in West Dean, Singleton, and Surrounding West Sussex Areas

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for groundwater in the Solent and South Downs area. The alert, identified by code 065FAG016, was raised on March 13, 2026, at 10:31 AM. While groundwater levels are currently high, they are reported to be falling.

Affected Areas

The alert specifically covers groundwater flooding in the following West Sussex locations:

• West Dean
• Singleton
• Charlton
• East Dean
• Chilgrove

What You Should Do

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

• Road Safety: Take care on roads that flood, particularly in Chilgrove, West Dean, Singleton, and East Dean.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure that water pumps are in working order.
• Property Monitoring: Be aware that groundwater may appear in a small number of basements.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater is currently very close to the surface. Expected impacts include:

• Springs continuing to appear and water accumulating in fields.
• Small amounts of water flowing down roads.
• Potential disruption to the sewage network’s ability to operate in East Dean, Charlton, Singleton, and West Dean.
• Groundwater levels at both Chilgrove and East Dean boreholes are expected to continue to fall.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of March 13, 2026. Only showers or small amounts of rain are forecast over the next five days through Tuesday, March 17, 2026. While groundwater is expected to fall throughout March, flood impacts may not reduce until April. If persistent or exceptional rainfall occurs in late March, impacts may remain for longer. The Environment Agency will update this alert by 18:00 on March 17, 2026.