Community update – Somerset Levels Flooding
Friday 7 March 2014
For the latest version of this update, visit www.somersetnewsroom.com
For latest weather forecasts, visit the Met Office www.metoffice.gov.uk
For flood warnings, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call 0345 988 1188.
***Latest news***
Environment Agency (EA) update
The EA are maximising pumping with the permanent pumps in Langport
pumping stations. The EA hope to be able to increase this by switching on a
further temporary pump later today. It is anticipated that the road into
Muchelney will be clear of water in the next 4 days. When the road is clear
Somerset County Council’s highways team will assess the road to make sure it
is safe to drive and walk on and look at where repairs need to be made.
Pumps in the rest of the Parrett, Tone and Kings Sedgemoor Drain systems are
being operated as much as water levels allow, to drain water from properties,
roads and farmland as quickly as possible.
Church Road in Moorland is clear and residents will be able to use it. Access to
the temporary track way will therefore cease.
Advice to people returning to homes about drinking water systems
The following advice is for people returning to homes once flood levels have
dropped, to ensure that water systems are clean and fit for use.
There has been no disruption to the public water supply in the flooded areas but
it is possible that pipe work on individual properties has been damaged or
contaminated. Wessex Water is carrying out routine monitoring of the water
supply in the area and will follow up where there has been damage to pipe
work.
Checklist:
 No water – if no water runs from your kitchen tap, please contact Wessex
Water urgently.
 Cleaning and flushing- the majority of systems can be used once the
following actions have been taken. Until then you should drink only
bottled or boiled water.
o Clean all taps using water (preferably hot if it is available) and
detergent and then disinfect using an antibacterial surface
cleaner. One bottle of Dettol antibacterial surface cleanser is
available per affected household from Help HQ at the old
Burrowbridge school or from the Donations centre at the old
Somerfield distribution centre on Huntworth Business Park in
Bridgwater. Follow the manufacturer’s advice on the bottle,
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ensuring a minimum contact time of 30 seconds to enable
disinfection to take place.
o The kitchen tap should be flushed at a moderate rate for 15
minutes.
o All other taps and showers in and around the house should be
flushed for 2 minutes.
o If your property has been flooded and you need to flush your taps
and you are on a meter you will automatically receive the Wessex
Water flushing allowance.
o You should only do prolonged flushing when the flooded water
has gone from your home and you are sure water can drain away
in your drainage system as normal.
Pipe work – if you are concerned that there has been damage to pipe
work please contact Wessex Water.
Oil spill – if there is a possibility that your water supply has been
contaminated by oil please contact Wessex Water.
Taste- if you are concerned about the taste of your water, run your tap
for a further 15 minutes, if the taste persists contact Wessex Water and
tell them you have already run your tap for 30 minutes.
Taps immersed in flood water- if your kitchen tap has been immersed in
flood water, please contact your Environmental Health Department for
advice. If you use a private water supply, please contact Environmental
Health for advice.
Contact numbers:
Wessex Water - 0845 600 4 600, quoting “Somerset Levels Flooding”
Sedgemoor District Council Environmental Health - 0845 408 2540
South Somerset Council Environmental Health – 01935 462462
Taunton Deane Council Environmental Health - 01823 356356
Please note this briefing does not take into consideration the state of your foul
drainage network (i.e. sewerage drains). Turning on taps and showers for any
length of time may cause flooding if the water cannot drain away.
20 Year Flood Action Plan
Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson announced the 20 Year Flood Action
Plan yesterday (Thursday 6 March). You can now read the plan on:
www.somersetnewsroom.com
Flood Assistance Centre
The Flood Assistance Centre will be open tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am to
4pm. The centre offers advice and information on insurance matters, housing,
benefits, financial support, social services, personal wellbeing help and advice
from the Somerset Waste Partnership on how to dispose of sandbags and flood
damaged furniture.
A crèche will be available for children whilst parents discuss their issues at the
centre.
Weekend
Please note that we do not plan to send out a community update over the
weekend unless we have an urgent message. The next community update will
go out on Monday.