Somerset's internal drainage boards will push the Environment Agency (EA) to install more permanent pumps on the Somerset Levels to prevent a repeat of this winter's severe flooding.
Somerset is still picking up the pieces from Storm Chandra, with the road between Langport and Muchelney still closed due to flooding and Somerset Council's highways team working overtime to repair thousands of potholes and other 'road defects' caused by the inclement weather.
The Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG) is among those calling for more permanent pumps to be put in place across the Somerset Levels and Moors, rather than relying on the EA to bring in temporary pumps and thereby delaying how soon floodwater can be moved downstream.
The EA has responded that it is looking into permanent pumps at 11 locations but there were "economic challenges" that had to be overcome.
FLAG representative Bryony Sadler from the raised the issue when the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) held its most recent board meeting in Yeovil on Friday morning (March 20).
She said: "I understand that there has been some consideration of making Northmoor a more permanent pumping station.
"At this stage the engineer involved appears to have discounted the idea, and I understand that National Grid has also requested payment in advance for operating a pumping station.
"It would be extremely valuable for the engineer to spend some time with locals, who have long-standing knowledge and experience of how the system works in practice, before the proposal is discounted.
"There is a great deal of local understanding about how the system operates that could help inform this decision.
"We should also explore alternative funding or power sources for a future pumping station, such as hydroelectric or solar power, or other funding streams, rather than relying solely on a solution that depends on advance payments to National Grid."
EA representative Ross Edwards said that the "trigger points" for when additional pumps are put in place would be looked at as part of an ongoing review into its response to Storm Chandra.
He added: "Work we've done previously looked at 11 pumping stations around the area and whether it would be better to have permanent pumps there rather than temporary pumps.
"We've done a lot of work on the economic challenges to this, such as the standing charge for the electricity. It’s a natural reaction to what happened to say 'get more pumps out there', but it is challenging.
"Alternative renewable sources of power are not viable at the scale needed when the Somerset Levels and Moors are flooded.
"Solar powered pumps are already in use in the summer, moving relatively small amounts of water for irrigation. They would not be appropriate to move large volumes of water in the winter.
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"Because the Somerset Levels and Moors are sparsely populated, attracting funding for large projects such as this can be difficult."
The EA operates 21 pumping stations in Somerset, all of which require regular maintenance and upkeep to ensure they are in full working order during flood events.
Four pumping stations - Huish Episcopi, Midelney, Northmoor and Westover - will be upgraded with new flood defence equipment in the near-future through a £6m investment from the EA.
Iain Study from the Somerset Drainage Board Consortium said that he and his colleagues would keep pushing the EA for more permanent pumps, ensuring that flooding events could be dealt with more swiftly.
He said: "There weren't that many flooded properties on the Levels and Moors this time, with 180 properties being protected by the additional measures put in place - but that isn’t to minimise the impact that this event could have had, had it gone on for longer and some of the measures not been undertaken.
"This was the second wettest January and February on record. Damages that were avoided were largely down to the ability to evacuate floodwater more quickly - because that creates more volume available to store the next dose of rain coming over.
"We need to avoid all delays in getting pumping capacity mobilised.
"To have the ability to turn up to a pumping station and press a button so that the extra pumps start running, rather than having to make decisions and spend two to three weeks installing pumps, is big.
"We are determined to keep pressing hard for permanent pumping in those locations where it would make a difference."
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