Differentiates between different types of drainage
Highway gullies
Blocked or slow running gullies (street drains) should be reported to Streetcare on the number below.
Gullies in passageways
Generally it is the responsibility of the owner/occupiers of the properties served by the passageway to arrange for clearance and maintenance.
Drains and sewers
A drain serves one property and a sewer serves more than one property.
A private sewer
- serves several properties,
- was constructed after 1st October 1937
- was not formally adopted by Anglian Water, or its predecessors.
A public sewer either
- serves two or more properties
- constructed prior to 1st October 1937 or
- is a public sewer formally adopted by Anglian Water, or its predecessors.
Example 1: The drains serving my property and my neighbours are blocked. The properties were built before 1936. Who is responsible for the clearance?
Anglian Water is responsible for the clearance and maintenance of public sewers constructed before 1st October 1936. After this date a sewer is the responsibility of the owners of the properties it served as it is deemed a private sewer. To contact Anglian Water please phone 0800 145 145 or visit their website.
Example 2: The drain serving my property is blocked. The property was built after 1936. Do I have to arrange and pay for clearance?
Yes. A private drain is the responsibility of the owner of the property for clearance.
Example 3: The drains serving my property and my neighbours are blocked. Who has to pay for clearance?
If it is a private sewer pipe, which connects all the properties, then it would be a joint responsibility. In the event that all parties can't agree to this then Environmental Control have powers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to ensure that all share the cost equally.
Rented accommodation - who pays for blockages?
If it is a Shoreline owned property then please contact Mears directly on 0845 849 2000. If you rent your property from a private landlord then please check your tenancy agreement to find out who is responsible for repairs of this type.
The Buck Beck
Waltham Village to Grove Lane: This land belongs to NELC drainage section, please contact Streetcare
Grove Lane to A16: This land belongs to NE Lindsey Drainage Board.
A16 to the estuary at Cleethorpes: This land belongs to the Environment Agency