Flooding advice

Floods can happen anywhere at anytime caused by Severn Trent Water burst water mains, run-off from sudden rainfall overloading Severn Trent Water sewers, as well as main rivers, watercourses, large water bodies such as reservoirs and groundwater. Even if you live miles away from a river there is still a chance flooding from other sources could affect you.

The most common sources of flooding are:

• River flooding occurs when a river cannot cope with the water draining into it from the surrounding watercourses and land
• Watercourse flooding occurs when a watercourse or drainage ditch cannot cope with the water draining into it from the surrounding land
• Sewer flooding occurs when Severn Trent Water owned sewers are overwhelmed by heavy rainfall or when they become blocked. The likelihood of flooding depends on the capacity of the local sewerage system
• Groundwater flooding occurs when water levels in the ground rise above surface levels. It is most likely to occur in areas underlain by permeable rocks, called aquifers;
• Reservoir flooding occurs when the retaining wall of a reservoir is breached and causes flooding 

Further information is available from the Environment Agency's Floodline service on 0345 988 1188.