Project Groundwater Northumbria are drilling boreholes and installing groundwater monitoring at 3 sites in Gateshead in October and November 2023. This will allow us to better track, understand and predict groundwater levels to improve our preparedness and response to groundwater flooding.
The sites are at Cross Lane Meadows, Watergate Park and Blaydon Fields.
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
Project Groundwater Northumbria is a FCRIP funded project, that is mapping groundwater flood risk and developing a groundwater warning alert system to better protect residents.
By drilling boreholes at key locations, we’ll be able to track water levels. This will provide valuable information for building maps and models. Collecting this information allows us to better predict how water moves below ground and predict potential flooding.
FCRIP stands for Flood Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. This programme is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to address current and future flood risks, from the sea, rivers, groundwater and surface water. FCRIP funds Project Groundwater Northumbria.
Site work is planned at Watergate park from 17th October until 27th October then at Cross Lane Meadows from 30th October until 10th November.
Finally, works are planned at Blaydon Fields from 13th November until 24th November.
There will be some levels of noise generated from the drilling equipment. The monitoring equipment will not make noise.
Equipment that will be used onsite includes cabins, drilling machinery, fencing to secure the site and generators.
A hole will be drilled approximately 100m below the ground, to prevent the hole from collapsing in on itself a plastic sleeve will be pla
The ground will be reinstated to its previous conditions after work is completed. The grassed areas may take longer to establish, time should be allowed for regrowth of the grass.
A temporary pole will remain in the ground at the site of the borehole, to allow researchers to access the underground water monitoring equipment for data collection.
There will be a manager to oversee the works and 3 operatives onsite carrying out the works
The works will start in mid-October at Cross Lane Meadows (Whickham) and Watergate Park. Works in Blaydon will start at the beginning of November.
Groundwater can often be seen seeping out of the ground. It can be found in different areas, including beneath oceans, lakes, valleys and mountains.
Groundwater flooding occurs when the water table, the top of the area of water saturation, reaches the surface.
No there will be no disruptions to the bin service.
With the exception of a small area where the works and site compound will be located the remaining areas will remain open and available for access. All normal activities like playing ball or dog walking can continue.
NB: The car park area to the rear of Monarch Terrace and next to Quarries Lane will not be available during the period of works.
All equipment and site compound will be behind haras fencing.
