We look after around:
- 148,292 gullies
- 28,855 offlets
- 13,000 chambers
Highway drains carry water from footways, access crossings, verges and carriageways. In rural areas without a piped system, road water is fed into roadside ditches via channels dug in the verge (grips).
Drains which carry foul water are usually the responsibility of the water authority (Anglian Water or Severn Trent).
Ditches are usually the responsibility of the adjacent landowner but can also be the responsibility of the local Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and, occasionally, us.
Allowing water to run from private property onto the road is an offence.
Inspections and maintenance
Highways drains are inspected following reports of problems and when routine cleansing and maintenance are carried out. During routine cleansing, road gullies are cleaned, and we record any defects that may be present. We also capture silt levels of gullies.
We use silt level information to understand if a gully is prone to silting, which could lead to it becoming blocked. Gullies which are prone to silting are cleaned more often than those which aren’t.
| Type | Cleansing schedule |
|---|---|
| Gullies, offlets and chambers | Risk based targeted cleanse can be every 2 years or yearly |
| Grips | When required |
| Linear drainage | When required |
We do not clean linear drainage (such as drainage channels) as part of the planned programme. The reactive drainage service deals with these as issues are identified.
We do not undertake road sweeping, including removing fallen leaves and debris, as this is a district council function.
One of the most significant barriers preventing us from cleansing is parking. If you see signs telling you that cleaning will occur, please do not park your vehicle on or near a gully.
Planned maintenance
We plan drainage maintenance using information from our routine inspections and reports from the public and third parties.
Solving blockages may involve sending a tanker to jet the drain and remove the obstruction. Sometimes this is successful, but more works will be required on other occasions.
If this is the case, we may conduct further investigations with our tanker or use a CCTV survey to establish the cause of the problem. We may be able to dig down and fix isolated issues. For more significant problems, a larger scheme of work will be planned.
Works are prioritised across the county considering the impact of the problem, especially where there is potential for properties to be affected. We also consider the impact of the problem on road safety and the travelling public.