Flood Warning Issued for Devils Brook Groundwater in West Dorset

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding along the Devils Brook. This alert indicates that high groundwater levels are expected to cause flooding in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Wessex area under the jurisdiction of the Dorset Council. Primary locations at risk include:

• Dewlish
• Chesilbourne
• General areas across West Dorset

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures immediately.
• Ensure that all basement or flood pumps are installed, functional, and switched on.
• Identify alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power outage.
• Be aware that septic tanks and sewer systems may become inundated.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving, as flooding of local roads is expected.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels at the Doles Ash borehole have been recorded at 120.71m. While levels in West Dorset are beginning to fall slowly, they remain high and highly reactive to any further rainfall. The current forecast suggests a dry week ahead, though showers are possible over the upcoming weekend. Expected impacts include the flooding of cellars and significant inundation of local infrastructure.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on March 10, 2026, at 7:14 AM. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide a formal update by 11:15 AM on March 17, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.