Environmental problems

Hertordshire County Council (HCC) deal with road gullies and associated drainage ditches. HCC also deal with flooding from the public highway.

You can report a fault online, or contact them on 0300 123 4047 to report issues. If there are issues with empyting / cleaning or maintaining highway drains or gullies, you can report a problem with HCC online.

The water company own and manage the network of public foul and surface water sewers. The responsibility for clearing a blockage within Watford may rest with the home owner (private drain) or Thames water Public Sewer. Further information is available online.

To report an overflowing public sewer, contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800 or by using their online form. If you have an issue with drainage misconnections, more information is available online.

If a private drain is impacting your premises or you want to chat to Watford Borough Council about a drain, please use our online form.

Pollution of controlled water courses such as brooks, streams, and rivers should be reported to the Environment Agency.

Ordinary Watercourses are any channel that water flows through, which isn't part of the main river network. It could be a river, stream, ditch, drain or brook. Under common law, ordinary watercourses are the responsibility of the riparian owner. This is whoever owns the land that the watercourse flows through or alongside. Further information is available online.

The main rivers are managed by the Environment Agency this includes Pollution control, national flood warnings, coastal defence and main rivers (consent under byelaws required). You can contact the Environment Agency in the following ways:

General enquiries: 03708 506506 / Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Incident hotline: 0800 807060 (24hr service)
Flood line: 0345 988 1188 (24 hr service)

Locations of Rivers managed by the Environment Agency are shown on this online map.

Watercourses, other than main rivers, are the responsibility of riparian owners. An ordinary watercourse is any channel that water flows through, which isn't part of the main river network. It could be a river, stream, ditch, drain or brook. Under common law, ordinary watercourses are the responsibility of the riparian owner. This is whoever owns the land that the watercourse flows through or alongside. More information can be found online.

• The Environment Agency - has powers and responsibilities to manage flood risk from main rivers, and works with others to maintain and improve main rivers throughout England.
• Hertfordshire County Council - is the Lead Local Flood Authority for Hertfordshire and has the role of managing flood risk from surface water and groundwater. 
• Hertfordshire County Council - Highways fault reporting system - If there is flooding of the highway, it should be reported using or telephone 0300 123 4047.

Water supply and sewerage services in England and Wales are managed by water companies. If you are not sure who provides your water and sewerage please visit the Consumer Council for Water.

Water is provided by:

Affinity Water - Supply of domestic water, leakage control, burst mains, etc.

You can contact Affinity Water by calling their General enquiries on 03453 572 401 or visiting their website.

Sewerage is provided by:

Thames Water Utilities Limited - The local sewerage undertaker responsible for all matters relating to public sewers (foul and surface water) including blockages.

You can contact Thames Water by calling their General enquiries call 08009 808 800 or visiting their website.