Flooding

Contents

 Flooding on the Highway
 Flooding from Public Sewers
 Flooding from Private Sewers or Drains
 Flooding from the Public Highway
 Flooding from a Burst Water Main
 Flooding from a Water Service Pipe or Internal Pipework
 Flooding from a Main River
 Flooding from Watercourses, other than Main Rivers
 Provision of Sandbags to Protect against Flooding

Flooding on the Highway

A very important feature of road construction is drainage. New roads include designed drainage systems intended to remove water efficiently from the surface of the highway to provide a safe passage for all vehicles and pedestrians.

Older roads may have less sophisticated drainage, but all have features designed to take the water away from the road surface. It is necessary to clean and maintain these drainage provisions so that they can work properly.

Problems can occur even when drainage provisions are clean and well maintained. Flooded and waterlogged roads result when the amount of water arriving on the road is greater than the capacity of the drainage facilities that take it away. Exceptional rainfall, a road being in a low lying area, changes in 'run off' from adjacent fields and rivers overflowing are some situations that can lead to the road flooding or being waterlogged even when drains are in good working order. Material carried into the drains by floods can also lead to them becoming blocked.

Drainage gullies, grills and gratings can become blocked very quickly when materials like mud are deposited on the road or when there is a heavy fall of leaves. If a flooded road is caused by a ruptured water main the water company will be responsible for repairing the damage.

Water is directed to drains by the road profile. Puddles (ponding) tend to occur if there is a depression in the road. This can be rectified where necessary by local patching of the road surface.

Flooding from Public Sewers

The water companies own and manage the network of public foul and surface water sewers. The majority of public sewers are located in highways and the Council has a copy of the sewer maps, which can be viewed at the Council offices. To report an overflowing public sewer, you should call Severn Trent's or Yorkshire Water's Customer Services.

Flooding from Private Sewers or Drains

If your private drains or sewers are overflowing, you will need a drainage contractor to deal with any blockage. See "Yellow Pages" under "Drain and Pipe Cleaning". If you are uncertain if any blockage is in the public or private sewers, the water company should be able to determine this, once on site, then recharge you the cost of any work on the private sewers.

If flooding from private sewers or drains creates a public health nuisance, then  contact Streetpride for further guidance.

Flooding from the Public Highway

For flooding from the public highway or reporting blocked road gullies or gratings,  contact Streetpride.

Flooding from a Burst Water Main

The local water supply company is Yorkshire Water. The water company is responsible for their supply up to and including the water stopcock.

Flooding from a Water Service Pipe or Internal Pipework

This is the responsibility of the homeowner or landlord and would need the attention of a plumber. See "Yellow Pages" or similar directories.

Flooding from a Main River

The main rivers are the responsibility of the Environment Agency, on 0845 933 3111. In addition, the Agency provides a "Floodline", which is a 24 hour advice and information service for floods and flood warnings. At the time of writing, the number is 0845 988 1188 but you can check it on the  Environment Agency web site. During times of high river levels, the Environment Agency provides regular updates of the situation. The links for different areas in the borough are given on our  Flood Warnings page.

Flooding from Watercourses, other than Main Rivers

Watercourses, other than main rivers, are the responsibility of the riparian owners. You are a riparian owner if your property or land is on, or very near, a watercourse. Riparian owners have a duty to keep the watercourse clear of any obstruction to flow and the Council can serve legal notices on riparian owners to deal with obstructions.

Provision of Sandbags to Protect against Flooding

The Council makes sandbags available to residents during emergency situations to help them protect their homes from flooding. However, at times of flooding, the Council may not be able to reach all at risk properties before flooding occurs.

Accordingly residents who know their homes are at a risk of flooding, perhaps because of the close proximity to a watercourse, should make advance preparations. For example, they should obtain sandbags from a builders' merchant, or implement other flood mitigation measures, such as flood gates, air vent covers etc.