Blocked drains

What to do about a blocked drain

If you’ve noticed slow drainage in your toilet, sink, or shower, this could be caused by a blockage. Some waste pipes are our responsibility, and some are the homeowner’s responsibility.

If you’re unsure where the blockage is and who is responsible, find out more about sewer pipe responsibility.

Found a blocked drain or sewer in or on your property? 

If the blockage is in a private drain, you’ll need to arrange for it to be unblocked. If it’s within your internal pipework, you’ll need a plumber. If the blockage is within your property boundary, on a drain or sewer only serving your property, you’ll need a drainage contractor. Both can be found on a reputable site such as checkatrade.com.

What if the blockage is in a public or shared sewer?

If the sewer affected is taking waste away from more than one property, or the problem appears to be outside your property boundary, it’s likely to be our responsibility.

Please let us know by calling 0345 717 1100, so we can get it fixed as quickly as possible. We aim to attend to blocked sewers within four hours.

What causes blocked pipes and drains?

Items such as wet wipes, excessive toilet paper, and cooking fats are the most common causes of blockages.

Wet wipes are a major cause of blockages. Even if they are labelled “flushable”, they can clog pipes and cause problems inside your home, in our communities, and in the environment. Many wipes contain plastic and don't break down in water like toilet paper.

Also, cooking oils and fats stick to the inside of the pipes and harden. The more you pour down the plughole, the more it builds up. 

How to prevent blocked pipes and drains

Here are some things you can do to help stop blocked pipes and drains:

• Only flush toilet paper, pee and poo down the toilet. Bin everything else.
• Use a bin in your bathroom for all types of wet wipes, sanitary products, nappies, and cotton buds.
• Allow oils and fats to cool. Scrape oils from your pots, pans, and plates into the bin before washing them.