Flood Warning Issued for Groundwater Flooding in Chitterne Valley, Wiltshire

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning (Severity Level 2) for groundwater flooding in the Chitterne Valley, located within the Wessex area. High groundwater levels in the Salisbury Plain region are currently plateauing but remain at a critical level.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected is Chitterne in the county of Wiltshire. The groundwater level at the Chitterne Down borehole has been recorded at 101.22m and is expected to remain high.

What You Should Do

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

• Prepare and implement property resilience measures.
• Ensure that any installed pumps are functional and switched on.
• Consider alternative power sources for pumps in the event of a power outage.
• Be aware of potential inundation of septic tanks and sewer systems.

Expected Conditions

Flooding of local roads is expected. Properties in the area may experience flooding in cellars. While the region has seen a few days of drier weather, groundwater levels remain high. Further rainfall is forecast to begin on Thursday, February 26, which is expected to cause levels to rise again through the weekend.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on February 25, 2026. The Environment Agency is closely monitoring the situation and expects to provide an update by 2:00 PM on March 4, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.