Drains, Gullies and Watercourses

Description of Service

Drainage issues are at the forefront of many people’s minds following the floods in recent times. A number of organisations are responsible for various aspects of drainage as follows:

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is responsible for all main rivers and have powers over other watercourses known as ‘ordinary watercourses’. These ‘ordinary watercourses’ can be any ditch, stream or other watercourse with the exception of:

• Public Surface Water Sewers.
• Highway Drains.

To contact the Environment Agency:

• Telephone: 0800 80 70 60
• Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Thames Water

Thames Water is responsible for:

• Public Surface Water Sewers
• Public Foul Water Sewers
• Combined Sewers.

To contact Thames Water’s Customer Services:

• Telephone: 08459 200800.
• Website: www.thameswater.co.uk.

Land or Property Owners

Land or property owners have a high level of responsibility in the subject of drainage.

Generally the owner of the land through which a watercourse runs is responsible for that watercourse and its maintenance whether piped or open. These landowners are known as ‘riparian owners’. Their responsibility also extends to the:

• clearance and removal of fly-tipping from their land (including where it is causing the blockage or obstruction of a watercourse).
• maintenance of underground drainage pipes that run through their land (either individually owned or shared with neighbours until they join with the Public Surface Water Sewers.
• interception of spring water that issues from their land.

Swindon Borough Council can only encourage these riparian owners to carry out maintenance work, except in extreme cases where lack of maintenance is causing severe problems. In these rare cases, Swindon Borough Council can carry out maintenance works and recharge the costs to the riparian owner.

Swindon Borough Council

Swindon Borough Council is responsible for Highway Drainage, which removes water from roads and pavements. This consists of the roadside gullies and the associated pipework up until the point it:

• Connects with the Public Surface Water Sewer.
• Joins with, and empties into, a watercourse.

Swindon Borough Council is also responsible, as riparian owner, for watercourses, ditches streams etc. that run through its land, such as public open spaces and parks.

Reporting a Problem

Depending on the specific nature of the problem, you will need to contact the appropriate organisation, as detailed above.

If you wish to report a highway drainage problem, and consider it to require immediate attention, please contact the StreetSmart team at the Swindon Direct Contact Centre on:

• 01793 445501 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 9am to 1pm)
• 01793 466453 (All other times).

Otherwise, please report damage or defects by following the links below:

Blocked Gullies
Clearance and removal of blockages from roadside gullies, drains and pipework to the point where it joins Public Surface Water Sewer or watercourse.

Drains, Inspection Covers and Frames
Missing or broken inspection and drain covers and their frames.

Watercourses (including Ditches, Streams etc.)
Maintenance of watercourses on public land that is the responsibility of Swindon Borough Council (e.g. parks, gardens etc.).