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The Borough Council is responsible for some drainage related functions
The Borough Council is a land drainage authority and has certain powers under the relevant legislation. This does not mean that the Borough Council is responsible for the control of water running off land or that it is responsible for any consequential damage of water running off land. What it means essentially, is that the Borough Council can require land owners to carry out certain works.
In conjunction with the County Council (as the highway authority) the Borough Council inspects and maintains grids at culvert entrances where watercourses run beneath highways.
The Council has a Policy Statement on Flood Defences (adopted in June 2001) which is available as a download by clicking here. Flood Defence Policy.pdf (600kb)
Since 1 April 1999, when the Borough Council ceased being an Agent for them, Severn Trent Water has been directly responsible for all public sewer functions. Public sewers are the main sewers usually located in the road and do not normally include the length connecting them to private properties. However, if it is a shared drain serving properties built before 1937, these too are the responsibility of Severn Trent Water. All enquiries and problems abut public sewers should be directed to Severn Trent Water who can be contacted on Freephone 0800 783 4444.
Private drainage problems such as blockages are the responsibility of the owner of the property affected. This includes blockages which occur under the road as the property owner is responsible for the maintenance of their drains until they connect with the public sewer. Where there is more than one property connected to a private drainage system, the legal responsibility for the problem and therefore the cost of correcting it, is usually shared by those up-stream of the problem.
Beyond the boundary of your property, if a third party causes damage to your drainage connection, it is the third party that will normally be responsible for the repair or the cost of the repair. Such third parties include utility companies, e.g. British Telecom, East Midlands Electricity, ntl, Severn Trent Water, British Gas (Transco), etc., laying services, the Agent Highway Authority (this Council) repairing the road, the owner of a tree which causes root damage and so on. The property owner should contact the relevant body or organisation.
The Environment Agency has responsibilities for issuing Flood Warnings etc.
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