Harrogate Borough Council
Menu
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?
- How do I report a blocked drain?
- Who is responsible?
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.
How do I report a blocked drain?
Yorkshire Water looks after the network of public sewers in the surrounding areas.
If you have a sewer problem, please contact Yorkshire Water on 0845 1242429 or see their website http://www.yorkshirewater.com/ for further information.
For help and advice on highway drainage, land drainage or private drainage, contact the Council during office hours on 0845 3006091 or by using the form below. We will need to know whether you are reporting a public or private drain.
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 responsibility of the tenant. If you live in a row of houses then the problem could be a shared one.
Contact Us
Please use the form below to contact us about blocked residential drains only.
To contact us about blocked drains on streets and highways, please use the form here.