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. Material carried into the drains by floods can also lead to them becoming blocked. Drainage grills and gratings (e.g. on gullies) 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.

The following notes give guidance on who to contact for various types of flooding:

Flooding from Public Sewers and burst water mains

The local water company, Severn Trent Water PLC own and manage the network of public water sewers and is responsible for the water supply up to and including the water stopcock. A copy of the public sewers can be viewed at the Council Offices. To report an overflowing public sewer or burst water main, you should contact Severn Trent Water (STW) PLC on 0800 7834444.

Flooding from private sewers, drains, water service pipes or internal pipework

This is the responsibility of the homeowner or landlord and would need the attention of a plumber. Please refer to local directories such as the Yellow Pages

Flooding from the Public Highway

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

Flooding from a Main River

The main rivers are the responsibility of the Environment Agency, on 0845 933 3111. In addition, the Agency provide a "Floodline", which is a 24 hour advice and information service for floods and flood warning on 0845 988 1188.

Flooding from Watercourses, other than Main Rivers Watercourses

Other than main rivers, are the responsibility of 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. Certain "strategic" watercourses, that are known to pose a high risk of property flooding if they become blocked, are checked and maintained by the Council's contractor on a regular basis.

Provision of Sandbags to Protect against Flooding

The Council makes sandbags available to residents of the district, during emergency situations, to enable them to protect their homes from flooding. However, residents aware that their homes are at a high risk of flooding, are recommended to obtain sandbags from a builders' merchant to enable early preparation, as at times of flooding the Council's contractor may not be able to reach all properties before flooding occurs.