June 2019 Rainfall and Flooding Update
Since rain began falling on Monday 10 June and with heavy rainfall predicted, Witham Fourth pumping station operatives were organised into 12 hour shifts. We have been pumping 24/7 for the last 7 days in an attempt to manage water levels in the district and have now had over 2.5 months rain in just 5 days.
In addition, we have engaged with the Fire & Rescue command centre in Lincoln to assist other partner organisations to manage the emergency situation at Wainfleet where around 188 properties have flooded and a further 400 properties have been evacuated. We have allowed the EA to pump excess water from the River Steeping at Wainfleet into our Bell Water Drain and the graph below shows the level of this Drain across the last 7 days. The first two spikes are caused by the rainfall event and the third spike, by the water the EA are pumping into our system. Levels are dropping and we are pleased to be able to support them during the current emergency.
The picture below shows the huge pump the EA are using to put water into our drainage network:
We will continue to work with the EA and others until the current emergency is over.
Peter Bateson, CEO