The Environment Agency has published an independent report commissioned to investigate how water got into the Foss Barrier Pumping Station in York on 26 December 2015. On Boxing Day, more than 600 homes and businesses were affected when exceptionally high rainfall and river levels led to extensive flooding in the city of York. The Environment Agency today (Thursday 12 May) published an independent report commissioned to investigate how water got into the Foss Barrier Pumping Station in York that day, forcing staff to shut down the pumps and open the barrier.

The report’s findings, by consultants CH2M, confirm that:

• The peak flow in the Foss on 26 December was extreme, equating to an event with a 0.5% (1/200) probability of occurring each year.
• All eight pumps at the Foss Barrier were working that day at full capacity but the water levels in the Foss continued to rise, by approximately 140mm an hour.
• The Environment Agency’s decision to raise the barrier on the evening of 26 December prevented even more widespread flooding; and delayed the peak water levels on the River Foss by some 18 hours. Click here to read more