Ground Water Information & Flooding

The Floodwatch Working Group of the Parish Council monitors groundwater information at various points through the Parish and the published data from the borehole at Vernham Dean, and from a private well in Stoke.

Since the village floods of 2014, there have only been two risings of the ‘River Dene’ from the Netherton valley – in January 2020 and 2024, both which began to subside around March, before there was any incursion into properties at the north end of the village – protected, to date, by the ditch and pipe on Dene Green, installed in 2015.

Regular readings are taken from the Netherton well during the autumn & winter and the Parish Council is duly advised of the results.  When the groundwater is high, the spring just north of Netherton causes the ancient River Dene to flow down to Hurstbourne Tarrant, onto Dene Green, and into the pipe under the A343.  This watercourse then meets the River Swift in Church Street.

The published groundwater levels at Vernham Dean give information about how the River Swift is likely to be affected.

The EA publishes levels and warnings which are available here.

Please contact the Clerk if you have any questions or concerns about groundwater flooding.  The Parish Council is supported by Test Valley Borough Council & Hampshire County Council during times of flooding, and can provide sandbags to help protect residents in the most vulnerable homes when the situation worsens, and more widespread if problems develop.  Flood mitigation work has been carried out on Dene Green. For future reference, you should read through the guidance below on what practical actions you can take to prepare if and when your home is at risk of ground water flooding.

The latest information from the Environment Agency on groundwater can be found here

You can also see the new data for rainfall and river levels here

You can sign up for flood alerts here

Groundwater levels for Hampshire & Sussex, and the latest briefings can be found here