Several types of flooding have impacted the UK to this point in 2026. We’ve got seen fluvial – or river – flooding, which is when rivers or streams burst their banks and flood surrounding areas. There has additionally been pluvial – or floor water – flooding, which is a direct results of intense or extended rainfall that overwhelms drainage methods.
Nonetheless, a 3rd sort of flooding – groundwater flooding – has additionally been a widespread downside, particularly in components of southern England. Low mendacity river valleys and areas on chalk aquifers – such because the Salisbury Plains – are most vulnerable to groundwater flooding.
The Setting Company says groundwater flooding, exterior happens when water below the bottom (the water desk) rises to the floor. This will result in water filtering upwards above roads or into cellars and basements.
In contrast to fluvial or pluvial flooding that tends to enhance comparatively rapidly, the British Geological Survey, exterior (BGS) says: “Groundwater flooding tends to stay round for weeks and even months at a time, and so causes better injury to properties.”
Infrastructure under the pure floor degree equivalent to tunnels, roads and railway cuttings may be significantly badly affected by groundwater flooding, and the BGS additionally says “Flooded septic tanks and sewers could imply bathrooms cannot be flushed”.
In Wales, Scotland and Northern Eire groundwater flooding is commonly much less in depth than in England because of the bedrock geology and topography. The overwhelming majority of water provided in Wales comes from rivers and reservoirs, that are presently at greater than 90% capability throughout the nation.
The Scottish Setting Safety Company (SEPA) warns that top groundwater ranges, exterior might probably “contribute to the extent and period of different sources of flooding equivalent to river or floor water flooding”.
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