FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 21st 2014) UPDATE:
OVER the past 24 hours, the levels of water along the Surrey and Middlesex stretch of the River Thames have dropped between one inch and four inches. The level has been falling day by day, very gently, since the extremely high figure was recorded some 10 days ago. Groundwater levels in the region remain very high.
Despite the improving situation, the Environment Agency still has flood warnings in place at Chertsey, Hamm Court, Shepperton, Laleham, Runnymede, Penton Hook, Wraysbury, Magna Carta Island, Datchet, East Molesey, West Molesey and the areas close to these locations.
The Agency said that while levels were easing, the rivers remained sensitive to any heavy rainfall in the next few days and property flooding could not be ruled out.
The Met office predicts mostly dry weather in the next two or three days but some showers are possible. It will be windy over the weekend.
So far, 21.5 inches (560mm) of rain has fallen in the Surrey hills since December 1 in what has become the wettest winter ever recorded.
Thames Water has said it is working flat out to deal with the sewage problem in the Thames flood area. But families say they have been having problems for more than six weeks and that raw sewage has been washed into gardens as well as condoms and even incontinence pads.
Thames Water said that the sewerage system in Thames-side roads has been flooded with water from the rivers as well as rising groundwater and it may be a considerable time before the levels drop, allowing engineers with cameras to go into the sewers to inspect them. It is feared that a sewer may have collapsed in the Eastworth Road area of Chertsey but there is too much water underground to perform tests at present. Thames Water customers who have raw sewage in their homes or businesses will be contacted as a priority until the water levels drop.The Eastworth Road area of Chertsey has been affected by raw sewage affected and two families have complained bitterly about the situation.
Two mothers in Eastworth Road said they feared for their children's health.
Roads remain closed in places. Chertsey Bridge is still closed but is expected to open in the next day or two.
* At Walton on Thames, the river level recorded by the Environment Agency at 7am was 3.75m, down 9cm (about 4in) in 24 hours and gently dropping.
* Upstream at Sunbury Lock, the level at 7am was 0.37m, down 8cm (3.5in) in 24 hours and falling steadily.
* Upstream at Shepperton Lock, the 7am reading was 0.66m. This was down 5cm (2in) since the same time yesterday (Thursday).
* Upstream at Chertsey Lock, the 7am measurement today was 0.9m, down 9cm (almost 4in) and was continuing to fall steadily.
* Upstream at Penton Hook, near Laleham, the observation today showed the level at 0.86m, down 5cm (2in) in 24 hours.
* At Thames Ditton Island, the level remained very high, at 6.23m and had dropped 2cm (1in) in 24 hours but was fluctuating with tides.
There are no Met Office severe weather warnings for the next four days and levels are expected by the Environment Agency to continue to fall gradually over the weekend.
