After heavy rain, drainage problems can look similar from the pavement: water pooling by a kerb, a blocked grid, a backing-up drain, or flooding linked to a watercourse. For Norbury residents, the most useful first step is working out which organisation is responsible.
Croydon Council’s flood and water management guidance separates several common problems, including private drains, public sewers, road gullies, burst water mains and main river flooding. The council also lists Norbury Brook among the main rivers in Croydon.
Blocked road gullies and highway drains
Roadside gullies are the grids or gully pots at the edge of adopted public roads that collect surface water from the highway. Croydon Council says it is responsible for clearing gullies and managing soakaways on public roads.
The council says blocked gullies or road drain problems can be reported online through the Love Clean Streets app or website. Its guidance says it aims to resolve reported issues within 10 working days, although some problems can take longer if there are secondary issues.
For other non-emergency drainage issues, Croydon Council lists its highways contact as [email protected] and 020 8726 6000.
Private drains and shared sewers
Croydon Council says a property owner is responsible for a drain until it connects to someone else’s drain or to a public sewer. If a private drain is blocked within a property boundary, the council advises contacting a plumber or drainage engineer.
Where water is backing up into a toilet, sink or bath, or where flooding is from public sewers, Croydon Council says Thames Water is the responsible organisation and lists the contact number as 0800 316 9800.
Burst water mains
If flooding appears to be coming from a burst water main, Croydon Council says residents should contact their water supplier. It lists Thames Water on 0800 316 9800 and SES Water on 01737 772000. Thames Water supplies clean water to most of the borough, while SES Water supplies parts of the southern borough.
Main river flooding and emergencies
Croydon Council’s report-a-flood page says that if lives are at risk, residents should call 999. For urgent but non-life-threatening flooding, the council lists 020 8726 6000 during office hours and gives instructions for emergency transfer outside those hours.
Main river flooding is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. Croydon Council says main river flooding can be reported to the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 807060. Its local list of main rivers includes Norbury Brook, the River Wandle, South Norwood Stream, Chaffinch Brook, St James Stream and The Beck.
Checking longer-term flood risk
For residents who want to understand longer-term area risk, GOV.UK provides a Check the long term flood risk for an area in England service. GOV.UK says the service covers long-term risk from rivers and the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater where data is available.
GOV.UK also notes an important limitation: the service does not say how likely it is that an individual property will flood, and it does not cover risk from sources such as blocked drains and burst pipes.
Quick contact checklist
- Blocked road gully or highway drain: report through Croydon Council’s Love Clean Streets app or website.
- Non-emergency drainage issue: contact Croydon Council highways by email or phone.
- Private drain inside a property boundary: property owner or landlord responsibility; use a plumber or drainage engineer.
- Public sewer flooding or water backing up into toilets, sinks or baths: Thames Water, 0800 316 9800.
- Burst water main: contact the relevant water supplier.
- Main river flooding: Environment Agency incident hotline, 0800 807060.
- Immediate danger to life: call 999.
Residents should use the official council and GOV.UK pages for current details, as contact routes and service arrangements can change.