Flooding, who is responsible

Find out more about who is responsible for flood risk management in Croydon.

Private land or property owners

As a householder or business, it is your responsibility to look after your property or land, including protecting it from flooding.

Front gardens

Make sure if you are paving your garden that the material you use is permeable.

You can find guidance on GOV.UK and the Royal Horticultural Society 

Pipes and drains

Drains are pipes that carry waste and surface water from one or more houses. When one drain meets another, it becomes a sewer. These are not the same as the gullies or grids in roads that take water off the highway. 

A drain is the property owner's responsibility until it connects to either someone else's drain or to a public sewer. It is the property owner’s responsibility to check for blockages.

If your drains are blocked, you need to call a plumber or drainage engineer. Specific insurance is available for drains within the property boundary. For more information on drain blockages see Drain blockages - guidance to householders.

If you are a housing association or private tenant, please contact your landlord to report any issues.

If you are a council tenant see Repairs to council homes for more Information on repairs to council homes. 

Toilets sinks and baths

If water is ‘backing up’ into your toilet, sink or bath and causing flooding, contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

Owning land with a river or watercourse 

If you own land next to or with a watercourse running through it, you have certain rights and responsibilities. In legal terms you are a ‘riparian owner’. Where a watercourse marks the boundary between adjoining properties or land, it is normally presumed that the riparian owner owns the land up to the centre line of the watercourse. 

If you rent the land, you should agree with the owner who will manage these rights and responsibilities. 

the Environment Agency has a plan to help you understand your riparian responsibilities. 

The Flood Hub have produced guidance: Riparian Ownership: A basic guide to owning and managing a watercourse.

If you wish to undertake any temporary or permanent works in or adjacent to a watercourse you will need consent. For more information see our ordinary watercourse management page.

Sewers

The water utility company (Thames Water) is responsible for sewers up to the property boundary or where they are shared up to the sewer which leads to the property. Contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

Road gullies on adopted highways

Most roads have roadside gully pots at the side of the road which capture the water. This water then flows into Thames Water sewers or soakaways. We are responsible for clearing gullies and managing these soakaways on public roads.

You can report a blocked gully or drain problems online using the Love Clean Streets app or website.

We aim to resolve reported issues within 10 working days. In some instances, it may take longer to resolve, for example, if the blockage is in relation to secondary problems.

Private estates or roads may have gullies or drainage systems which are the responsibility of the landowners or private management companies.

If you wish to report another non-emergency drainage issue, please contact the Council Highways team by:

Clean water mains

For burst water mains and leaks contact your water supplier. Thames Water supply clean water to the majority of the borough while SES Water provide clean water to the southern part of the borough.

If you are unsure of your supplier you can find out your water and wastewater provider.

Thames Water

Report online
Call 0800 316 9800

SES Water

Report online
Call 01737 772000

Main rivers

Main Rivers are mapped and registered by the Environment Agency.  The Environment Agency undertakes some maintenance work in high risk areas.

If you notice a blockage or tree on a main river which is causing risk of flooding, call the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Ordinary watercourses

Ordinary Watercourses are watercourses that aren’t Main Rivers,  see the Gov.uk website for more information. 

We have responsibility for ensuring that the flow of land drainage in a watercourse is not impaired. In the event of problems contact:

Reservoirs 

A reservoir is typically a larger natural or artificial body of water created using a dam or lock to store water. Different companies and landowners may manage various reservoirs.

Reservoirs in Croydon: 

South Norwood Lake 

An open reservoir located In South Norwood near Bromley,

Russell Hil

Russell Hill is a covered reservoir in the west of Croydon managed by Thames Water.

Each reservoir displays contact details of the responsible body. In case of an emergency, please call the Council at 020 8726 6000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm). Outside working hours, call the same number and follow the instructions for emergency services.