Residents urged to take action now in case of groundwater flooding

Thursday, 12 February 2026 08:01

Wiltshire Council is urging residents across the county – but particularly in the south – to check their flood risk now and take action where Environment Agency flood warnings and alerts are in place.

The county has been hit by rain almost daily since the start of the year, and there are significant amounts of water that is affecting rivers around Wiltshire, but particularly groundwater in the south of the county.

Nearly all groundwater monitoring stations on Salisbury Plain and stretching down to Salisbury have Environment Agency flood warnings currently in place, which means that flooding is expected and people should act now.

Salisbury River Park continues to protect over 350 properties from the risk of river flooding. But around 100 properties are at risk of flooding from rising groundwater levels in the vicinity of Salisbury Cathedral.

People at risk of flooding should take steps now to protect themselves, their loved ones, pets, and any valuables by moving them to a safe place. They should also put flood protection equipment in place if they have it.

Wiltshire Council does not supply sandbags, as it is a property owner’s responsibility to protect their property from flooding. To find out more about this policy and where to go to buy sandbags, people should go to: Flood protection products and sandbags - Wiltshire Council

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Flooding, said: “Water levels across the county are rising and they will rise further as we expect more rain. This may affect river flooding and groundwater flooding and so people should be aware and prepared in case of flooding.

“Groundwater is often slow to rise but it can linger for several weeks, so people in areas that may be affected by groundwater flooding should take action now – do not wait or leave it until it is too late.

“Everyone should sign up for Environment Agency flood alerts and warnings, have a flood plan and know what to do in case of flooding. Anyone can report flooding incidents or weather emergencies to us through our MyWilts app or website.”

Useful flooding information