Prolonged wet weather on Saturday caused flooding in some places in the Midlands, and more heavy downfalls were expected on Sunday, Severn Trent said in a news release dated 22 September 20221. The water company issued storm and flooding advice to customers after the rain, saying it wanted people to be as prepared as possible in case of another prolonged period of heavy rainfall and windy weather1.
Severn Trent set out which body households should contact depending on the source of the flooding1:
| Type of flooding | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Major river flooding from rising river levels | The Environment Agency, whose Flood line number is 0345 988 1188 |
| Sewer flooding from the public sewer, or flooding due to burst pipes | Severn Trent; where flooding is due to heavy rain, it may need to wait for the flood water to subside before it can investigate. Customers should also contact their insurer |
Steve Betteridge, Head of Waste Network Operations at Severn Trent, said:
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 sewers1. It said rainwater flooding should subside on its own once the weather clears and it stops raining, while sewer flooding from a public drain or manhole should be reported to Severn Trent1. It also said sewer flooding can be more likely when items such as tampons, wet wipes, sanitary products and nappies are flushed, and when fats, oils and grease from the kitchen go down the drain, because these can form blockages1.
Why it matters for households
Severn Trent said knowing who to contact first time can save worry and help make sure the right calls get through, adding that people might naturally think of contacting the water company first when another agency may be the right one1. Its published steps for keeping a home flood-free during stormy conditions were to empty water butts in the garden before the rain starts to reduce rainwater flow into drains, to check that home and garden drains are free-flowing by clearing leaves and other waste, and to clear leaves or debris from roadside drains where possible or contact the local council if they are blocked1. On sewers, it said only the "three Ps" of pee, poo and paper should be flushed, food scraps should be scraped into the bin rather than rinsed down the sink, and cooking oil can be poured into a bottle and thrown away1.
The Environment Agency's Flood line number, as given by Severn Trent, is 0345 988 11881. The release did not give figures for the number of properties flooded, and no casualty or damage totals have been reported1.
What happens next
No further dates were given in the release beyond the expectation of more heavy downfalls on Sunday1. Households can read the guide to flood alerts, flood warnings and severe flood warnings and the wider flooding guide for households; sewer flooding and who is responsible is covered in Sewer Flooding: Causes and Who Is Responsible.
Flood Alerts and Flood Warnings
