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The Jubilee River story - The Myrke ditch pump problem.

When the flood water rose in January 2003 there were no pumps installed at the Myrke ditch in Datchet.  The Environment Agency failed to comply with with the Operating procedure.  I suspect that by the time the EA realised that they were supposed to have installed the pumps, it was too late.  The access roads had flooded and it was no longer possible to transport the pumps to the site!

These pumps are required because when the water levels of the Jubilee River and the River Thames rise during a flood event, the Myrke ditch is unable to drain naturally.

The Myrke ditch (which is critical ordinary watercourse and designated 'main river') drains the centre of Slough and also intercepts water seepage both through and beneath the Myrke embankment.  In order to prevent flooding on the 'dry' side of the Myrke embankment it is necessary to install and operate the mobile pumps during a flood event.  These pumps take water from the Myrke ditch and move it into the Jubilee River during the flood event.

Backflow into the Myrke ditch is prevented by an automatic flap valve and a manually operated isolator valve.

Image below - January 2008 - Pump on site at Eton Road - awaiting installation