Groundwater levels

Central Region

*The long term average (LTA) has been calculated statistically, using the long term data record for this hydrograph. The respective drought zones are used as operational triggers, and have been derived using the LTA.

Rainfall in our Central region in January was well above the monthly average, at 179% of LTA. As a result soil moisture deficit (SMD) remains low, and groundwater levels continue to rise, as show in the above graph. Groundwater levels are increasing at a faster rate than the LTA trend, and are above the point at which they were this time last year. Continued recovery of groundwater levels is expected for the remainder of the winter under all rainfall scenarios, and they are likely to remain above the LTA curve throughout the summer and into the autumn.

The Chalk derived baseflow of streams across our Central region has continued to increase as a result of the high groundwater levels. Flows in most of the catchments across our Central region are currently classified as ‘notably high’ or ‘high’ by the Environment Agency, and there have been incidents of surface water flooding in some areas.