A drain emergency can happen at any time. Sewage may back up into your home, drains may flood, or a pipe may collapse. The first few minutes matter, because quick action can limit the damage to your property.
Recognising a Drain Emergency
Not every drain problem is an emergency. However, get help straight away if you see:
- Sewage backing up into your property
- Water flooding from drains
- More than one drain blocked at the same time
- A strong sewage smell inside your home
- Sewage in your garden or driveway
Immediate Steps to Take
1. Stop Using Water
Stop all water use in your home as soon as you spot a serious problem, since extra water has nowhere to go:
- Do not flush toilets
- Do not run taps or showers
- Do not use the washing machine or dishwasher
- Turn off any appliance that drains water
Every extra litre you add can make things worse, because the drain cannot take it.
2. Protect Your Property
If water or sewage is getting into your home, protect what you can while you wait:
- Move furniture and valuables away from the area
- Roll up rugs and carpets if you can
- Use towels or sandbags to block doorways
- Open windows for fresh air
3. Check for Leaks
If a pipe or appliance is leaking and you cannot stop it, find your stopcock. It is usually under the kitchen sink or near the front door. Turning it off cuts the mains water, so the leak should slow.
4. Avoid Contaminated Areas
Sewage can carry harmful bacteria, so keep children and pets well away from the affected area. If you must go in:
- Wear rubber boots and gloves
- Do not touch your face
- Wash your hands and arms well afterwards
- Do not eat or drink near the area
5. Record the Damage
Once you have done what you can, record the damage, since photos help an insurance claim:
- Take photos and video of the damage
- Write down the time the problem started
- Note any damaged belongings
- Keep these for your insurance claim
Who to Call in Scotland
Who you call depends on where the problem is. However, the private drain inside your property boundary is the homeowner's responsibility, so a drainage engineer can help there. Send a request on the online form, which is open 24/7, and mark it urgent.
For flooding from a public sewer, call Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778. Its website shows the helpline as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Scottish Water says it usually attends within 4 hours for a flood inside a property and within 24 hours for one outside, although severe weather can change this.
Flooding from roads, or a problem with a road gully, is a matter for your local council. You should also tell your insurer, since it is best placed to help whatever caused the flooding.
If you see sewage pollution in a river, stream or other watercourse, tell Scottish Water as soon as you can. You can also report pollution to SEPA on 0800 807 060. A live operator answers Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
What NOT to Do
Do Not Use Chemical Drain Cleaners
In a real emergency, drain chemicals will not help, because they suit small, slow blockages. They are not made for major drain failures. They can also splash and cause harm, so keep them away from standing sewage.
Do Not Climb Into a Manhole or Chamber
Never lift a cover and climb in to clear a drain yourself. Scottish building standards guidance notes that manual entry to a drain or sewer should happen only where no alternative exists. Leave it to a trained engineer, because sewage can carry harmful bacteria.
Do Not Wait and Hope
Drain problems rarely fix themselves. The longer you wait, the worse the damage can get, so act early.
While You Wait
Once you have sent a request, there are a few more things to do while you wait:
- Clear the way to any manhole or inspection chamber, but do not lift the cover
- Note where water is coming in or backing up
- Ask neighbours if they have the same problem, since it could be a drain you share
- Keep your phone charged so the engineer can reach you
What to Have Ready
The request form asks for a few details, because they help the engineer plan. Have these ready:
- Your address and postcode
- What is happening
- When it started
- Whether it affects more than one property
- Your contact details
Getting Emergency Help
Read about emergency drain help in Glasgow and the wider emergency drain services page. Since the problem may be in another town, there are also pages for emergency drain help in Paisley, emergency drain help in Motherwell and drainage help in Rutherglen.
For a flooding emergency or a sewage emergency, ask the engineer what equipment they plan to use, because jobs differ. Many use CCTV cameras and high-pressure jetting. Ask for a written quote before work starts.
Request urgent help online, because the form is open 24/7, and mark your request urgent.
Related Guides
- Use a checklist for a blocked drain emergency to judge how urgent your problem is.
- Follow the first steps when sewage backs up in more detail.
- Find out what Scottish Water covers and what it does not.
- Read council or Scottish Water for a blocked road drain if the problem is on the road.
- See what to try with a blocked toilet if only the toilet is affected.