Who should I report flooding or drainage problems to?
Flooding
If you are experiencing flooding and you are concerned for your or other's safety, dial 999 for fire or ambulance
We understand how frustrating it can be not knowing who to report flooding to, especially when you have been impacted by that flooding. This page aims to provide guidance on:
- Who to report flooding to based on the location and type of flooding being experienced.
- What information to include in your report.
What to include in your report
The more information you can provide about the flooding in your report the easier and quicker the problem can be investigated. It is helpful if you:
- Include an accurate address for the location of flooding (or a description of the location using approximate distances from road junctions, house numbers etc.).
- Add as much detail to the description of the flooding as possible, including things like:
- The date and time the flooding happened.
- What the weather was like leading up to the flooding.
- How the water moved and where it appeared to come from (for example, was it slowly seeping out of the ground, or was it spreading out from a stream?).
- Ensure any photos or videos of the flooding provided include some that show the wider area/full extent of the flooding and are not all zoomed in images of water or people's feet in water.
Flooding on roads or from a roadside gulley/grate
If you have observed flooding on a road of any type within East Sussex then please report it to East Sussex Highways: Location of flooding problem – live.eastsussexhighways.com.
Flooding from an inspection chamber
Inspection chambers can connect to several types of drains and sewers and deciding who to report the flood to can be difficult.
If the water looks dirty, contains solids and smells, it is likely to be wastewater (foul water). Avoid coming into contact with the water contact Southern Water Report a Blocked or Flooded Sewer - Southern Water.
If an inspection chamber is flooding a road or pavement, contact East Sussex Highways Location of flooding problem – live.eastsussexhighways.com.
If you are unsure contact Southern Water Report a Blocked or Flooded Sewer - Southern Water.
Flooding coming from a construction site or partly complete development
If you have observed flooding coming from a construction site or partly complete development within East Sussex, then please report it to us at FRM@eastsussex.gov.uk .
