The Environmental Protection Section will investigate any complaints relating to drainage and sewerage, finding out the nature of the problem and decide who is responsible for any further action. Middlesbrough Council's Pest Control and Drain Clearance Team provides a service to unblock drains but you will need to call out a private contractor to carry out any necessary repair work.

Drainage Systems

Drainage is an area of uncertainty when determining whether actual lines of pipe are the responsibility of one or more individuals or of a local body such as the water board in this case Northumbrian Water. There are generally three types of drainage systems:

• A private drain, which connects from one property to a private sewer or directly to the public sewer.
• A private sewer, which takes wastewater from a number of properties before connecting to the public sewer. There may be a separate private sewer for foul and surface water. Or it may be combined, taking both foul and surface water and may run along the front or the rear of several properties.
• A public sewer is usually located in the middle of the road or back street.

For more information please use the links below.