Water Situation Report - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk · Cow Green 100% Lune/Balder Group 99%...

All data are provisional and may be subject to revision. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the

Environment Agency. Its officers, servants or agents accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or

use of the information, or reliance upon views contained herein.

© Environment Agency 2015

Monthly water situation report

Summary – February 2017 A wetter than average month with normal flows for the majority of catchments. Soil remains saturated, reservoir stocks increased and groundwater levels continue to rise as a result of the wetter conditions.

Rainfall February was wetter in comparison to the previous two months. The northern half of the area from the Tyne to the Till received above average rainfall of between 139-164% of the LTA and the southern half of the area from the Wear to the Tees received average monthly rainfall of around 117-121% of the LTA. Noteworthy daily totals of between 10 to 20mm occurred on the 22nd as a result of Storm Doris.

Soil Moisture Deficit Soils remain saturated across the area due to the higher than average rainfall recorded this month.

River Flows With the exception of ‘above normal’ monthly flows in the River Till all other rivers recorded flows within the ‘normal’ range of between 91-136% of the LTA. Daily flows peaked to ‘exceptionally high’ levels around the 12th

and again around the 23rd in response to Storm Doris.

Groundwater Levels Groundwater in all of the North East Area’s aquifers have risen sharply over the past month following normal to above normal rainfall, with a number of prolonged and heavy rainfall events. Aycliffe in the recharge area of the Magnesian Limestone is still at ‘normal’ levels following below average rainfall in previous months, however all other monitoring points are recording ‘notably high’ and ‘exceptionally high’ levels.

Reservoir Storage Reservoir stocks increased by up to 10% this month in response to the wetter conditions. With the exception of the North Tyne group and Derwent reservoir, stocks in the remaining reservoirs are above average for the time of year. Due to the higher than average rainfall for February, support for levels in Derwent Reservoir from the Kielder tunnel have been postponed until further notice.

Current Stocks:

Kielder 95% North Tynedale Group 84% Derwent 60% Durham Group 100% Cow Green 100% Lune/Balder Group 99%

Authors: Alexandra Mason & Richard Hill

North East Area

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Rainfall

Total rainfall for hydrological areas across England for the current month, the last three months, the last six months, and the last 12 months,

classed relative to an analysis of respective historic totals. Final NCIC (National Climate Information Centre) data based on the Met Office

5km gridded rainfall dataset derived from rain gauges (Source: Met Office © Crown Copyright, 2016). Provisional data based on Environment Agency 1km gridded rainfall dataset derived from Environment Agency intensity rain gauges. Crown copyright. All rights

reserved. Environment Agency, 100026380, 2017.


Above average rainfall Below average rainfall

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

Mar-1

6

Apr-1

6

May-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-1

6

Nov-1

6

Dec-1

6

Jan-1

7

Feb-1

7

1-Month Period for Tweed

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

Mar-1

6

Apr-1

6

May-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-1

6

Nov-1

6

Dec-1

6

Jan-1

7

Feb-1

7

1-Month Period for Northumbria North Sea Tribs

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

Mar-1

6

Apr-1

6

May-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-1

6

Nov-1

6

Dec-1

6

Jan-1

7

Feb-1

7

1-Month Period for Tyne

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

Mar-1

6

Apr-1

6

May-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-1

6

Nov-1

6

Dec-1

6

Jan-1

7

Feb-1

7

1-Month Period for Wear

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

Mar-1

6

Apr-1

6

May-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-1

6

Nov-1

6

Dec-1

6

Jan-1

7

Feb-1

7

1-Month Period for Seaham, Peterlee Coastal Area

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

Mar-1

6

Apr-1

6

May-1

6

Jun-1

6

Jul-1

6

Aug-1

6

Sep-1

6

Oct-1

6

Nov-1

6

Dec-1

6

Jan-1

7

Feb-1

7

1-Month Period for Tees


Soil Moisture Deficit


River Flow

Data source: Environment Agency. Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency. 100026380. [2017].


Exceptionally high Notably high Above normal Normal Below normal Notably low Exceptionally low ─── Latest data

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

May-16 Jul-16 Sep-16 Nov-16 Jan-17 Mar-17

Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

HARTFORD BRIDGE, BLYTH (NE)Ranking derived from data for the period Jan-1967 to Dec-2012

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

HAYDON BRIDGE, SOUTH TYNERanking derived from data for the period Oct-1974 to Dec-2012

0

5

10

15

20

25


Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

MIDDLETON IN TEESDALE, TEESRanking derived from data for the period May-1971 to Dec-2012

0

2

4

6

8

10

12


Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

MITFORD, WANSBECKRanking derived from data for the period Nov-1968 to Dec-2012

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18


Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

ROTHBURY, COQUETRanking derived from data for the period Jun-1972 to Dec-2012

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

STANHOPE, WEARRanking derived from data for the period Oct-1958 to Dec-2012

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40


Flo

w (

cum

ecs)

HEATON MILL, TILL (NE)Ranking derived from data for the period Apr-2002 to Dec-2012


Groundwater Levels

Data source: Environment Agency. Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency. 100026380. [2017]. Exceptionally high Notably high Above normal Normal

Below normal Notably low Exceptionally low ─── Latest data

42

43

43

44

44

45

45

46

46

May-15 Aug-15 Nov-15 Feb-16 May-16 Aug-16 Nov-16 Feb-17

Level (m

AO

D)

ROYALTY OBSERV.Ranking derived from data for the period Dec-1990 to Dec-2012

3

4

4

5

5

6

6


Level (m

AO

D)

RED LIONRanking derived from data for the period Aug-1993 to Dec-2012


Exceptionally high Notably high Above normal Normal

Below normal Notably low Exceptionally low ─── Latest data

Reservoir Stocks – data from Water Company

75

77

79

81

83

85


Level (m

AO

D)

AYCLIFFE NRA2Ranking derived from data for the period Mar-1979 to Dec-2012

137

138

138

139

139

140

140


Level (m

AO

D)

TOWNLAWRanking derived from data for the period Aug-2001 to Nov-2012

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

3


Level (m

AO

D)

WEST HALL FARMRanking derived from data for the period Mar-1979 to Dec-2012

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

live

ca

pa

cit

y

Kielder

2015 Min Max Mean

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100


Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

live

ca

pa

cit

y

N Tyne Group

2015 Min Max Mean


Reservoir Stocks – data from Water Company

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100


Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

live

ca

pa

cit

y

Derwent

2015 Min Max Mean

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100


Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

live

ca

pa

cit

y

Durham

2015 Min Max Mean

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100


Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

live

ca

pa

cit

y

Cow Green

2015 Min Max Mean

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100


Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

live

ca

pa

cit

y

Lune Balder

2015 Min Max Mean


Glossary Term

Definition

Aquifer A geological formation able to store and transmit water.

Areal average rainfall The estimated average depth of rainfall over a defined area. Expressed in depth of water (mm).

Artesian The condition where the groundwater level is above ground surface but is prevented from rising to this level by an overlying continuous low permeability layer, such as clay.

Artesian borehole Borehole where the level of groundwater is above the top of the borehole and groundwater flows out of the borehole when unsealed.

Cumecs Cubic metres per second (m3s-1)

Effective rainfall The rainfall available to percolate into the soil or produce river flow. Expressed in depth of water (mm).

Flood Alert/Flood Warning Three levels of warnings may be issued by the Environment Agency. Flood Alerts indicate flooding is possible. Flood Warnings indicate flooding is expected. Severe Flood Warnings indicate severe flooding.

Groundwater The water found in an aquifer.

Long term average (LTA) The arithmetic mean calculated from the historic record, usually based on the period 1961-1990. However, the period used may vary by parameter being reported on (see figure captions for details).

mAOD Metres Above Ordnance Datum (mean sea level at Newlyn Cornwall).

MORECS Met Office Rainfall and Evaporation Calculation System. Met Office service providing real time calculation of evapotranspiration, soil moisture deficit and effective rainfall on a 40 x 40 km grid.

Naturalised flow River flow with the impacts of artificial influences removed. Artificial influences may include abstractions, discharges, transfers, augmentation and impoundments.

NCIC National Climate Information Centre. NCIC area monthly rainfall totals are derived using the Met Office 5 km gridded dataset, which uses rain gauge observations.

Recharge The process of increasing the water stored in the saturated zone of an aquifer. Expressed in depth of water (mm).

Reservoir gross capacity The total capacity of a reservoir.

Reservoir live capacity The capacity of the reservoir that is normally usable for storage to meet established reservoir operating requirements. This excludes any capacity not available for use (e.g. storage held back for emergency services, operating agreements or physical restrictions). May also be referred to as ‘net’ or ‘deployable’ capacity.

Soil moisture deficit (SMD) The difference between the amount of water actually in the soil and the amount of water the soil can hold. Expressed in depth of water (mm).

Categories

Exceptionally high Value likely to fall within this band 5% of the time Notably high Value likely to fall within this band 8% of the time Above normal Value likely to fall within this band 15% of the time Normal Value likely to fall within this band 44% of the time Below normal Value likely to fall within this band 15% of the time Notably low Value likely to fall within this band 8% of the time Exceptionally low Value likely to fall within this band 5% of the time

Water Situation Report - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk · Cow Green 100% Lune/Balder Group 99%...

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