If you are experiencing drainage problems, the first point of contact is the Public Health team at Rushcliffe Borough Council. Environmental Health Officers in the team are trained to deal with drains and sewers, determining what the problem is and who may be involved. To speak with a member of the Public Health team, contact the Customer Services Centre and ask for the Public Health section of the Environmental Health Service. You may also find it helpful to download a copy of our information leaflet.

If you are experiencing smells from your sink and gullies, toilets will not flush and manholes are backing up with sewage, then it is likely there is a blockage that will need to be cleared. An Environmental Health Officer will visit and investigate on your behalf to see if you are solely responsible or whether your neighbours are jointly involved.

Costs

Private Drain

Where you are the only one using a pipe, it is called a 'private drain'. When a private drain becomes blocked, you are solely responsible for getting it cleared by a private contractor; the bill will be presented to you, and it must be paid by you.

Private Sewer

Where your property and neighbouring properties share the use of the same pipe, it is called a 'private sewer'. When a private sewer becomes blocked, you all share the cost of getting it cleared. Environmental Health Officers can serve a legal notice on everybody using a private sewer to get it unblocked within 48 hours. If the sewer is still blocked after this time, the Environmental Health Officer will contact a private contractor to clear the sewer and the costs will be split between all the neighbours involved. This is referred to as 'works in default'.

We deal with broken drains and sewers in the same way.