Thousands of Somerset homes will enjoy better protection from flooding in the coming years following improvements to three key reservoirs.
The Environment Agency (EA) began work in 2022 to upgrade three reservoirs on the Somerset Levels and Moors, which hold back large quantities of water to prevent flooding in low-lying areas following heavy rainfall.
The substantive programme of works has now concluded at Curry Moor reservoir (near Stoke St. Gregory), Southlake Moor reservoir (near Burrowbridge) and West Moor reservoir (near Thorney), as part of a £90m investment programme to protect low-lying communities from flooding.,
These improvements will provide additional resilience for residents, farmers and local businesses, as well as protecting the vital A361 between Taunton and Glastonbury.
The final outstanding elements of these improvements will be carried out, weather permitting, in the autumn of 2026.
The Somerset Levels and Moors face "unique flooding challenges", with 18 per cent of the county lying below average tide level.
These three upgraded flood storage areas form part of an interconnected flood water management system, allowing millions of cubic metres of water to be held back from low-lying areas until it can be safely released through existing watercourses and flow out into the Bristol Channel.
These upgrades, carried out with contractor Kier, have been funded through a £5.2bn government fund which aims to protect 336,000 UK properties from flooding and coastal erosion by 2027.
EA Wessex area director Ian Withers said: "These vital maintenance investments represent a significant step forward in continuing to protect Somerset communities from flooding.
"The £90m investment demonstrates our commitment to building resilience across the Somerset Levels and Moors, an area we know has a unique and persistent flood risk due to its geography.
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"By strengthening these essential flood storage reservoirs, we’re not only protecting homes and businesses today, but ensuring these communities are better prepared for future flood events.
"The interconnected nature of our flood cell system in low-lying Somerset catchments means these maintenance investments benefit a much wider area."
At West Moor reservoir, south of Langport, substantial improvements have been implemented, including a replacement pipe connecting the facility to South Moor, a new outlet spillway from South Moor, and a new inlet and outlet spillway at West Moor.
These changes will protect Thorney, Muchelney and the neighbouring villages during periods of high-water levels, with the moors being able to store 8.5 million cubic metres of water at any on time - the equivalent of the volume of 3,400 Olympic swimming pools.
At Curry Moor reservoir, improvements have included the installation of a debris screen, bank repairs, and the completion of critical embankment and spillway works along a 200-metre section of the River Tone between Hook Bridge and New Bridge.
At Southlake Moor reservoir, the right bank of the River Parrett and the left bank of the River Sowy have been strengthened, with a new spillway being put in place.
Much of the inert materials used in the reservoir improvements came from local housing developments, with soil from the Orchard Grove estate in Taunton being stored by the EA at a compound on Olivers Road near Middlezoy.
Jason Flagg, the EA's catchment engineer for Wessex West reservoir projects, said: "The technical complexity of these reservoir upgrades has been immense, but the engineering solutions we’ve implemented will make a real difference when communities are most at risk.
"From the new spillway systems at West Moor and South Moor to the comprehensive bank reinforcement at Southlake, every element has been designed to work as part of the wider flood management network.
"We’ve also ensured our work protects the local environment – our careful approach to preserving wildlife habitats, including the reed canary-grass stands that support rare species, as well as conservation of archaeological finds, shows that effective flood defence and environmental protection can go hand in hand.
"These reservoirs are now in a strengthened condition to serve communities for decades to come."
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