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| UK floods: Somerset Levels water pump plan unveiled | UK floods: Somerset Levels water pump plan unveiled |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A plan to reduce water levels on the flooded Somerset Levels has been unveiled by the Environment Agency. | A plan to reduce water levels on the flooded Somerset Levels has been unveiled by the Environment Agency. |
| The Levels began flooding more than six weeks ago and ongoing heavy rain since has flooded dozens of homes. | The Levels began flooding more than six weeks ago and ongoing heavy rain since has flooded dozens of homes. |
| Pumps from the Netherlands will be used to divert water to try and cut levels on the River Tone, it was announced on Wednesday. | Pumps from the Netherlands will be used to divert water to try and cut levels on the River Tone, it was announced on Wednesday. |
| The agency said the scheme would reduce the flood risk in the villages of Northmoor and Saltmoor. | The agency said the scheme would reduce the flood risk in the villages of Northmoor and Saltmoor. |
| Melvin Wood from the Environment Agency said high capacity pumps would be used to send water down the River Sowey and the King's Sedgemoor Drain to the River Parrett at Dunball near Bridgwater. | Melvin Wood from the Environment Agency said high capacity pumps would be used to send water down the River Sowey and the King's Sedgemoor Drain to the River Parrett at Dunball near Bridgwater. |
| "On the River Tone catchment we will see the levels dropping hopefully within days, but it is dependent on whether further water comes down the river from further rainfall we might receive," he said. | "On the River Tone catchment we will see the levels dropping hopefully within days, but it is dependent on whether further water comes down the river from further rainfall we might receive," he said. |
| "Within days we should see levels dropping within the Parrett." | "Within days we should see levels dropping within the Parrett." |
| Mr Wood said it "may take weeks" for the water levels on the flooded moors to clear. | Mr Wood said it "may take weeks" for the water levels on the flooded moors to clear. |
| "But we're talking about getting the levels down so that we can start our major pumping operation on Currymoor and the moors upstream of Langport within several weeks." | "But we're talking about getting the levels down so that we can start our major pumping operation on Currymoor and the moors upstream of Langport within several weeks." |
| The first of the high capacity water pumps brought in from the Netherlands are due to be turned on for the first time later. | The first of the high capacity water pumps brought in from the Netherlands are due to be turned on for the first time later. |
| A total of 13 pumps are being installed by the Environment Agency in Beerwall and Dunball. | A total of 13 pumps are being installed by the Environment Agency in Beerwall and Dunball. |
| However some residents said they were worried about water being diverted into areas not currently flooded. | However some residents said they were worried about water being diverted into areas not currently flooded. |
| Mr Wood said contingency plans had been drawn up to prevent that happening. | Mr Wood said contingency plans had been drawn up to prevent that happening. |
| "We've got additional pumping at Beerwall, sandbagged properties at Aller Drove and we're putting additional sandbagging in at Westonzoyland," he said. | "We've got additional pumping at Beerwall, sandbagged properties at Aller Drove and we're putting additional sandbagging in at Westonzoyland," he said. |
| Two severe flood warnings remain in place in the Somerset Levels, at Salt Moor and North Moor including Moorland, and at A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge. | Two severe flood warnings remain in place in the Somerset Levels, at Salt Moor and North Moor including Moorland, and at A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge. |