Environment Agency Irrigation Pumping Update – Huntspill River and River Axe
The Environment Agency has advised that exceptionally lowwater levels in the Huntspill River are affecting irrigation pumping operationsacross parts of the lower Brue and Coastal catchments.
Current pumping restrictions
- Sloway Lane Pumping Station: Pumping has ceased until further notice because water levels in the Huntspill River have fallen below the minimum level required at this location for safe operation.
- Withy Grove Pumping Station: Pumping has been reduced to eight hours per day to protect equipment and conserve available water supplies.
- White House and Southill Pumping Stations: Pumping and abstraction from the River Axe remain under review. If dry weather continues and river levels fall further, pumping may need to be reduced or stopped in the coming days/weeks.
Advice to landowners
Landowners are advised to closely monitor livestock andwater supplies while these conditions continue.
Where possible, electric fencing should be used to preventlivestock from accessing rhynes and watercourses. Fencing should be checkedregularly to ensure it remains effective. Keeping livestock out of channelswill help prevent bank poaching, erosion and further deterioration ofwatercourse conditions.
Please note that any temporary fencing erected alongsiderhynes must be removed before IDB maintenance work takes place and can bereinstated once the work is complete. To help us coordinate this, pleasecontact the office or your Area Supervisor to let us know where temporaryfencing has been installed so that we can arrange for you to be contacted forit to be removed before contractors arrive.
Where possible, landowners should also consider movinglivestock to fields with a reliable potable water supply, particularly if waterlevels continue to fall and access to water within the drainage network becomesincreasingly limited and dangerous.
The Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium is continuing towork closely with the Environment Agency to monitor water levels and identifyopportunities to resume normal pumping operations as soon as conditions allow.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.