A crucial new dredging programme has commenced on the Somerset Levels, aimed at protecting local homes and businesses from flooding.
Since 2015, the Parrett Internal Drainage Board has overseen an annual strategy to maintain the River Parrett’s capacity. This ensures that large volumes of water can efficiently drain off the Levels and Moors into the Bristol Channel, reducing flood risks.
This essential work, continuing the efforts last made by the Environment Agency in 2014, is funded through the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) as part of its budget sourced from council tax contributions.
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The latest dredging operation started this week, targeting the river stretch downstream from Burrowbridge to the Northmoor pumping station. Burrowbridge holds strategic importance as the confluence of the River Parrett and the River Tone, with the vital A361 road running through it.
This section was prioritized in Somerset’s 20-year flood action plan after the devastating floods of 2013 and 2014. The current dredging aligns with the larger winter tides and is expected to wrap up within two to three weeks.
The process involves a platform-mounted excavator, operated by WM Longreach, removing silt from the riverbanks and placing it in the channel. Then, the Borr—a specialist craft operated by Van Oord—uses powerful water jets to agitate and disperse the silt, suspending it so it can be carried downstream on outgoing tides.
For further details on the River Parrett dredging, contact the Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium at 01278 789906 or email [email protected], referencing ‘water injection dredging’ in the subject line.
Looking ahead, the SRA will finalize its annual budget in early March, which includes funding commitments for ongoing dredging and river improvements. For the 2026/27 financial year, the draft programme allocates £775,000 for maintenance dredging and silt monitoring along three miles downstream of Burrowbridge.
In September 2025, the SRA board voted to continue water injection dredging operations until at least 2031/32, demonstrating a long-term commitment to flood management and river maintenance in the Somerset Levels.