Blocked drains
We operate a planned maintenance programme for cleaning highway surface water drains on all the roads we maintain. Where defects or flooding are identified, outside the planned programme, these will be dealt with as necessary.
When you contact us to report a blocked drain, please provide the following information:
- your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
- where the drain is, including the road name and area
- if it is outside a specific property
Report a blocked drain
Gully gratings, manhole and drain covers
Gully gratings
You can report any of the following defects:
- missing
- broken or dislodged
- incorrect type
Manhole and drain covers
Please contact us to report a manhole cover that is broken, collapsing, missing, very low or protruding above road level that might be dangerous to road users. We will check the cover and arrange repair work as appropriate.
It is useful to know who the owner of the cover is (for example, phone, gas or water), as it can speed up the process of repair or replacement. If the manhole is owned by a utility company, we will request that they fix the problem within 7 days. Or you can phone the utility company directly to report a defect.
We will come to inspect the site by the end of the next working day, if possible.
If the manhole is owned by a utility company, we will request that they fix the problem within 7 days. Or you can contact them directly to report a defect.
We regularly inspect gully gratings, drains or manhole covers in accordance with our Highway Safety Inspection Manual.
Report damaged drain or gully
Reporting a problem outside of our hours
If you need to report a problem outside of our normal working hours (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm) and you believe it is urgent and a risk to public safety, please phone 0300 123 2224.
Previously reported issues
If you have already reported a problem, you can check the status of your report using your report reference number here:
Sewage
If a drain is overflowing and the water is very smelly, it is probably sewage. This needs to be dealt with by whoever is responsible for the sewer. This may be the owner of the property or Wessex Water if it is a main sewer.
Wessex Water Leakstoppers – 0800 692 0 692
Wessex Water Emergencies – 0345 600 4 600
If the sewage is coming from a connection to the main sewer or from a cesspit or septic tank, the property owner is responsible and will probably need to contact a plumber or a specialist.
Planned maintenance
We operate a planned maintenance programme for cleaning highway surface water drains on all the roads we maintain.
How often we do this depends on where they are (the classification of the road) and the relative risk of flooding.
- Gullies in flood susceptible areas will be cleaned every year.
- Gullies in rural non-flood susceptible areas (outside a 30mph or 40mph speed limit) will be cleaned every two years.
- Gullies in urban non-flood susceptible areas (inside a 30 or 40mph speed limit) will be cleaned every 4 years.
The planned programme is reviewed and adjusted each year to respond to the changing nature of risk and flooding on the county’s road network.
Where defects or flooding are identified, outside the planned gully cleansing routine, these will be dealt with as necessary.
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