WEST Dorset residents are being urged to join a new groundwater flood warning device.

The Environment Agency’s (EA) first community-based groundwater flood warning service in Dorset has officially launched and will be added to its National Flood Warning Service online.

Groundwater flooding occurs when the natural underground drainage system cannot drain rainfall away quick enough and water rises to the surface following a wetter than average winter. It is most commonly associated with areas of chalk geology.

The flood warnings cover smaller areas and communities that are at risk of flooding, rather than the more general groundwater flood alerts.

The EA wants residents in more than 100 vulnerable communities – which includes Hooke, Toller Whelme and Toller Porcorum near Beaminster – to check if they are at risk of groundwater flooding and sign up for free telephone or text message alerts.

Nicol Selick, from the EA’s local flood resilience team, said: “Rising groundwater can be very difficult to protect against. It is less visible than flooding from rivers and often seems to appear out of nowhere.

“A warning can be the first indication people get that flooding is imminent.

“This type of flooding can be a huge problem for householders. It can lead to overflowing septic tanks and flooded basements. Groundwater can be around for weeks or even months as a result.

“Signing up for groundwater flood warnings will give residents the chance to take action and put preventative measures in place before flooding affects their home, like turning on pumps.”

Dorset councils, the lead local flood authorities for groundwater flooding, supported the development of the service, which has been funded by the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Residents can find out if the groundwater flood warning service is available in their area by visiting www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk and can register to receive alerts at www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings

Those who are already signed up to the flood warning service will still need to opt in for the groundwater flood warnings.