Worthenbury Meadows pumping stations review
We operate the pumping stations to improve the quality and reliability of agricultural land for landowners by artificially draining excess water built up in drainage ditches and allowing water to reach natural watercourses quicker.
The pumps are unable to stop flooding but they are helping to remove the flood water from the land faster than would be the case naturally.
Pumping Stations Review
In 2016, we completed the first part of the Pumping Stations Review project that consisted of high-level assessments of 19 pumping stations in North Wales.
This phase reviewed the performance and benefit of each pumping station in terms of managing flood risk for people and residential properties, then developed long-term management options for each station.
Further assessments were undertaken to make sure the evidence base was robust for these pumping stations.
Our initial options on the future of Wern-y-Davy, Dolennion and Gwern-y-To pumping stations are:
- Decommission the pumping station/s – preceded by a period of mothballing during winter months to ensure there is no unforeseen adverse impacts to, for instance to any paths used by the public.
- Handover of the pumping station/s to landowner/s.
We want to hear from you
As the study develops, we are eager to hear from you to find the best solution.
We would like to understand your views and would be grateful if you could complete our online questionnaire which will be open until 22 May 2022. The responses will be collated in June 2022 for us to consider each pumping stations future.
Why did we conduct the pumping stations review?
In line with Welsh Government priorities, we are taking a more sustainable approach to flood risk management and exploring opportunities to enable our landscape to adapt to climate change.
The Welsh Government has championed a move from a system based on traditional approaches of land drainage and defence alone to one focussed around the principles of risk management. This move towards a risk management approach is supported by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
As a result of this, Welsh Ministers must develop, maintain and apply a strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales (National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for Wales). We need to consider other options to defence and drainage that could reduce both the likelihood of an event occurring and the consequences of those events.
These could include:
- making more use of the natural environment, like wetlands or salt marshes;
- identifying areas suitable for inundation and water storage;
- supporting people in taking actions to make their buildings, land and activities more resilient to flooding.
The solution will also need to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources in line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and the Environment (Wales) Act.
Keeping in touch
If you would like further information about the project or to receive regular updates, please get in touch: worthenburymeadows@naturalresources.wales