Flood Alert Issued for Deane and Ashe in North Hampshire Due to Rising Groundwater

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for groundwater flooding in Deane and Ashe, located in North Hampshire. This alert is managed by the Solent and South Downs area office and indicates that flooding is possible due to high groundwater levels.

Affected Areas

The primary areas affected are Deane and Ashe in North Hampshire. Monitoring data from a borehole in Oakley indicates that water levels have risen by 26cm over the past week. The River Test is currently flowing through Deane and Ashe as a result of these conditions.

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare property resilience measures to protect against potential water ingress.
• Ensure that all installed pumps, including those used to reduce water levels, are in good working order.
• Monitor local conditions, particularly if you rely on a septic tank, as high groundwater is currently affecting their ability to operate effectively.

Expected Conditions

While only 7mm of rain has fallen in the last week, groundwater levels remain high. This has caused the River Test to flow in areas where it is not always present and is impacting the functionality of septic tanks. If the area experiences further heavy rain, cellar flooding in Deane could become a possibility. However, the current forecast from Wednesday, March 4, 2026, to Sunday, March 8, 2026, is for mostly dry weather.

Timeline

The alert was raised on March 4, 2026. Groundwater levels are expected to stabilise within the next week given the dry forecast. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and will provide an update by 6:00 PM on March 11, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.