Mid-morning monsoon hits Poole treatment centre

A summer storm on Thursday 18 August, the worst anyone on site could remember, caused Poole treatment centre to close its doors to traffic because the site suffered almost instantaneous and serious flooding.

Rob Charman, waste technician at Poole recalled: 'Within half an hour of the storm starting there was over two and a half feet of flood water over a number of areas of the treatment centre. Cast iron inspection covers were being forced open by the sheer force of water, making the site potentially dangerous for anyone trying to navigate
through the flood waters.'

Vehicles were quickly moved from some of the low lying areas around the treatment centre, with the exception of one unfortunate Peugeot 206 that was locked and the driver off-site. Damage to that vehicle was so extensive it had to be written-off.

The monsoon like storm affected the site all day and it was not until late afternoon, early evening that the site could claim to be anywhere near back to normal - albeit
somewhat soggy.

Organic Waste news - Autumn 2011