Drainage

The responsibility for drainage issues lies with a number of different agencies, as shown below.

• Surrey County Council are responsible for highway drainage issues (such as surface water drainage) and can be contacted on 08456 009 009 or follow the link to report the issue online.  
• Woking Borough Council can be contacted on 01483 755855 for information on ordinary watercourses such as natural streams, rivers or ditches that are not main rivers. Serco undertake works to maintain any ditches which are Woking Borough Council’s responsibility.  

 

• If your enquiry relates to a public sewer please contact Thames Water or Southern Water, depending upon who covers your area.  
• Problems related to a private sewer, private watercourse or private land, are the responsibility of the landowner. To find out who owns an area of land please contact the Land Registry.        
• The Riparian Owner is the term used to describe anyone who owns a property alongside a watercourse of any description. It is the responsibility of the riparian owner to deal with water running through modified areas of property within their own land. The owner could do this in a variety of ways but has the responsibility to pass on the flow of water without obstruction, pollution or diversion affecting the rights of others. Your solicitor will tell you if the rights are owned by anyone else and the Environment Agency provides some guidance on your responsibilities.