Pump on site at Burghfield power station under threat of flooding

Yesterday (Sat), fire crews, army troops and other public agencies were called to assist Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE) in protecting the Pingewood substation from flooding.
Around 50 troops from the 7th Battalion The Rifles are on scene again today enhancing flood defences with hundreds of sandbags.
Part of the outside area at the substation has been flooded, but the equipment has not been affected and no power has been lost to properties as a result according to SSE.
Around 8,000 properties could be without power if the station is flooded.
A pump is now at the site helping to keep floodwater at a manageable level.
National media reports suggest that this is a pump from Hertfordshire as equipment from Berkshire is currently being used in Somerset, although this has not been confirmed.
A spokesman for SSE, Gavin Steel, told NewburyToday this morning: “We have had staff on site at the substation in Burghfield since yesterday, with support from the fire service and other public agencies, including the army.
“There are no customer supplies currently affected – everyone’s power is on and the situation is stable at the moment.
“With support from the public agencies we have been using a pump to get the water levels to a safe level.
“Because much of the substation is out in the open air, there’s some water within the substation compound but the water levels are being kept at a level which allows the equipment to operate safely.
“Since this situation occurred yesterday we have been working to ensure that if there were a problem caused by the floodwaters at the substation we would be able to reroute power to the network supply.
“The worst case scenario would be that up to 8,000 customers could be affected if the waters rose.
“The situation is under control at the moment and we are continuing to monitor it closely.”
The site had previously been affected by flooding in December 2013.
Have you been affected by flooding in West Berkshire?
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