If you think there is a blockage or if your property has been flooded by our public sewer, please call us on 03457 440088 and one of our team will be here to help, 24 hours a day.

Blockages in household pipes can be particularly nasty, stopping wastewater from leaving your property.

If you find it difficult to flush your toilet or notice that water drains away very slowly, this could be a sign of a blockage.

When wastewater is unable to flow away it can come back up from the toilet or sink, flooding your home.

What causes blockages?

Sewers are only designed to take away wastewater, toilet tissue and human waste.

All other paper products, including kitchen roll and wet wipes, should be put in the bin.

Most blockages are caused by cooking fat and oil, which congeal in the sewers, forming a thick layer around the pipe. This prevents sewage from flowing and can cause it to back up.

Wet wipes and sanitary items also contribute to some of the most troublesome blockages.

Top tips to keep your drains flowing

• Love your loo: Make sure that only wastewater, toilet tissue and human waste goes down your drains and into the sewer.
• Bin it – don’t block it: Wrap up sanitary products, nappies, wet wipes and condoms and put them in the bin.
• Think – not in the sink! After cooking, fat, oil and grease should be left to cool – it can then be put in the bin or mixed with seeds and nuts to make a feeder for birds.
• Chemicals, solvents, engine oil and paint should be taken to your local refuse site.
• Medicines, tablets, syringes and needles should be taken to your pharmacist, local hospital or health authority for safe disposal.

Identifying who is responsible for clearing a blockage

If you’re unsure who is responsible for clearing a blocked drain or sewer, you may find the following information helpful.

It may be the property owner’s responsibility if:

• Only one property is experiencing problems
• The property doesn’t share drainage with any other property
• There is no other flooding in the local area

It may be our responsibility if we have public sewers in the area and at least one of the following applies:

• The problem is outside your property boundary
• More than one property is experiencing problems
• There is widespread sewer flooding in the area

What you can expect from us

• If your home is flooded with waste water from one of our sewers and you let us know, we will be there within four hours of receiving your call.
• We aim to unblock public sewers as quickly as possible. If you call us before 2pm we will unblock the sewer within 8 hours. If you call us after 2pm we will unblock the sewer before mid-day the following day.
• After a sewer floods we will help to clean and disinfect the area in line with Water Research Council guidelines.

Download our ‘If it’s not PEE, POO or PAPER it will block the pipes’ leaflet