Three kinds of drain, three owners
A blocked drain on the road is not always a job for the same people. The right call depends on what is blocked, since each case has a different owner. Once you know that, you can report it to the right place.
There are three main cases. The first is a road gully or highway drain. The second is a public sewer, and the third is your own private drain.
Road gullies and pavements: the council
Councils are responsible for drainage of local roads and public highways. That includes the gullies at the roadside, while the pipes at your own home are a separate matter. So if a gully is full and water pools on the road, report it to your local council.
Scottish Water says the same thing. For flooding from roads, or problems with highway gullies and ditches, contact your local council. Scottish Water does not list road gullies as its job.
Motorways and major trunk roads work differently, since their drainage is the Scottish Government's job, through Transport Scotland. So a motorway drain is not a council matter.
Which council covers your town
The council you need depends on where your street sits. Use the list to find your area. Then read on for the council notes.
- Glasgow: Glasgow City, with a part in Renfrewshire.
- Paisley: Renfrewshire.
- Motherwell: North Lanarkshire.
- Cumbernauld: North Lanarkshire.
- Coatbridge: North Lanarkshire.
- East Kilbride: South Lanarkshire.
- Hamilton: South Lanarkshire.
- Lanark: South Lanarkshire.
- Rutherglen: South Lanarkshire.
The Glasgow area spans two councils, so check which one covers your street. Rutherglen is not in Glasgow City, although it is easy to assume it is. If you live there, your road drains are a South Lanarkshire matter.
North Lanarkshire Council drains local roads and public highways, including road gullies. You report blocked road drains online with a mygov.scot account. The council says to phone only if the problem is dangerous and causing a hazard.
South Lanarkshire Council deals with blocked road gullies. Some people call them gulleys or stanks. The council has a roads faults form for reports.
Glasgow City Council runs gully cleaning based on risk. Reports of floods and blocked gullies drive that work. It also says heavy storms can swamp the sewers, even when the gullies are clear.
For Renfrewshire and Glasgow City, start with your local council. We do not list their report details here, since they can change. Check the council website for the current route.
Sewage or flooding: Scottish Water
Sewage is a different problem, because it comes up from the sewer, not the road. If sewage comes up through a manhole cover, that is Scottish Water's job. South Lanarkshire says so on its own page.
Scottish Water runs the public sewer network, while the council looks after the road. It also helps protect homes when sewers overflow or block. To report flooding from a public sewer, call 0800 0778 778 or use its online portal.
Read our guide on what Scottish Water covers for more detail. If water is already in your home, see what to do in a drain emergency. Our emergency drain services page also explains the next steps.
Your own drain on your own land
Your private drain runs from your home to your property boundary. The homeowner is responsible for it. So a blockage inside your boundary is yours to deal with, while the road outside is not.
A drain becomes a public sewer when it leaves your boundary. It also becomes one when it joins drains from the separate curtilage of another property. Our guide on who is responsible for a blocked drain in Scotland explains the rule.
If the blockage is in your own pipe, ask a drainage engineer for a written quote before work starts. Our blocked drain services page lists what they can do. For a yard or garden drain, see outside drain unblocking.
Help in your town
Not sure whether it is a gully or your own drain? Ask the council first if the water is on the road, since that points to a gully. If it is inside your boundary, you can send a request through the form, which is open 24/7.
In Glasgow City, there is drain help in Glasgow and blocked drain help in Glasgow. In Renfrewshire, see drain help in Paisley or emergency drain help in Paisley.
In North Lanarkshire, there is drain help in Motherwell and blocked drain help in Motherwell. In South Lanarkshire, try drain help in Hamilton. You can also browse all drain services or the towns covered.
FAQ
Will the council unblock my drain?
The council clears road gullies and looks after local road drainage. Your private drain belongs to the homeowner up to the property boundary, so if you rent, ask your landlord or the council.
How do I report a blocked drain to Glasgow City Council?
Scottish Water says to contact your local council about road flooding and highway gullies. Glasgow City Council runs gully cleaning based on risk, driven by flood and blocked gully reports. Check the council website, since its reporting route can change.
Who do I call about a blocked road drain or gully?
Report it to your local council. If sewage is rising through a manhole, call Scottish Water instead. For a blocked drain inside your boundary, you can ask a drainage engineer.