Severn Trent issued fresh advice to customers on 6 January 2025 after snow fell across many parts of its region at the weekend and heavy rain that day caused flooding in some areas. The water company set out which organisation households should contact depending on the source of the flooding, and issued separate guidance on preparing homes for freezing temperatures.
The company said temperatures had fallen below zero at the start of the New Year, with more bitterly cold weather expected in the coming days. It directed customers to different contacts according to the type of flooding:
| Type of flooding | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Roads, blocked drains or grates on highways, groundwater surface flooding, streams, brooks and small rivers | The local council |
| Major river flooding from rising river levels | The Environment Agency, whose Flood line number is 0345 988 1188 |
| Flooding from the public sewer or from burst pipes | Severn Trent; customers should also contact their insurer |
Severn Trent said that where flooding is caused by heavy rain, it may need to wait for the flood water to subside before it can investigate. Scott Ludford, Waste Lead for Severn Trent, said:
"We know just how distressing any form of flooding can be and with more extreme weather events on the horizon being driven by climate change, we want to make sure that our customers are as prepared as possible if we see a return of last year's stormy conditions."
The company said storms can produce different kinds of flooding, with surface water on streets potentially resulting from blocked roadside drains, ground saturation, or rain overwhelming the capacity of the sewers. Ludford added that rainwater flooding should subside on its own once the weather clears and it stops raining, but that anyone seeing sewer flooding from a public drain or manhole should contact the company, which will send someone out as soon as possible.
For keeping a home flood-free in stormy conditions, Severn Trent advised emptying water butts before rain starts to reduce rainwater flow into drains, checking that home and garden drains are free-flowing and clearing leaves or other waste, and clearing leaves and debris from roadside drains where possible or contacting the local council if they are blocked. For freezing temperatures, its tips included wrapping pipework, fittings and storage tanks in unheated areas such as lofts, roofs, outbuildings and garages with waterproof foam insulation; insulating or draining outside taps down to the pipework; making sure everyone in the household knows where the stop tap is, usually under the kitchen sink, in the garage or in a ground floor utility room or bathroom near where the water supply pipe enters the home; and checking that stop taps turn easily, as they can stick if not used often. It said registered plumbers can check household pipes are properly lagged and fill any gaps, and that it supports watersafe.org.uk, a search facility for qualified and approved plumbers.
Why it matters for households
The advice applies to Severn Trent customers in the parts of its region affected by the weekend snow and the rain of 6 January. It sets out which body handles which kind of flooding, so that households reporting flooding reach the organisation responsible: the council for roads, small watercourses and surface water, the Environment Agency for major rivers, and the water company for sewer flooding and burst pipes. Severn Trent advises customers to contact their insurer as well where flooding comes from the sewer or a burst pipe. Its cold weather guidance covers burst pipe risk during the freezing spell it says is expected in the coming days. The flooding guide sets out household preparations for flooding, and the flooding hub covers related guidance.
What happens next
Severn Trent said more bitterly cold weather is expected in the coming days. No further dates for flood warnings or updates have been reported.
