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Drainage

Drains are pipes which carry waste and surface water from one or more houses. When one drain meets another, it becomes a sewer. These are not the gullies or grids that can be found in the road to take water off the highway.

How do I know if it is my drain that is blocked?

If your drain is blocked you will usually know because your waste will stop going away when you flush the toilet, or gullies outside will overflow. There will also probably be a smell. Private drains/sewers are the responsibility of the owner-occupier and any other properties connected to it. We can advise on clearance of a blocked drain.

How do I report a blocked drain?

Southern Water looks after the network of public sewers in the surrounding areas. If you have a sewer problem, please contact Southern Water on 0845 278 0845. For further information you can visit their website.

For help and advice on highway drainage, land drainage or private drainage, contact us during office hours.

Who is responsible?

It is the responsibility of the owner-occupier to maintain and clear a private drain/sewer. If the property is rented then it is the owners' responsibility. If you live in a row of houses then the problem could be a shared one if the drain is connected to a private sewer and a number of properties use the sewer.

How to contact us

You can contact the City Helpdesk on 023 9283 4252 or email them at cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

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