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Somerset upgrades six pumping stations in £11 million flood programme

KROV newsroom

13 Nov 2026, 1:15 am IST1 min read

DiscussionThe story behind the news.

Illustrated lowland fields, drainage channel and a small pumping house

England’s Environment Agency is modernising six pumping stations in the Somerset Levels and Moors under an £11 million programme. In its 12 November update, the agency said work at Midelney and Huish Episcopi had been completed. It expects work at Northmoor and Westover to follow in 2027, and Long Load and North Drain to be finished in 2028.

Much of the area lies below average sea level. In winter, the stations lift water from flooded land into rivers and drains, which helps reduce the depth and duration of floods. In summer, the stations help supply water for farming and habitats, the agency said.

The agency said all 21 pumping stations in the area already use electric pumps, many of them installed in the 1960s and 1970s. The six sites form the first phase of a wider modernisation strategy. The work aims to improve flood resilience and the agency describes the remaining dates as its schedule.

Cover image is an AI-generated editorial illustration.

Sources and credits

Credit: Environment Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Summarised/translated by KROV · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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