Check who can authorise work and use the appropriate landlord, utility, council or emergency route when needed. This enquiry form is not an emergency dispatch service. Local reporting contacts are below; this enquiry service does not provide emergency dispatch.
When drainage needs urgent action
Do this now
Sewage coming indoors, a loss of usable sanitation or water approaching electrics needs prompt action. Stop adding wastewater if safe, keep clear of affected areas and obtain direct urgent help. Floodwater can hide contamination, damaged surfaces and electrical hazards.
- Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.
- Keep children and animals away; avoid contact with sewage.
- For a suspected Anglian Water sewer problem, call 03457 145 145.
- Notify the landlord or manager where the property is rented or shared.
- Use this form only for safe follow-on enquiries; it does not dispatch a team.
Useful next steps
Sources: Where to report flooding · Anglian Water current contact and support · Eastlight repairs
Sewage backing up into the house
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- Keep clear of contaminated water and keep others away.
- Reduce wastewater entering the affected system.
- Report suspected public-sewer flooding directly to Anglian Water.
- If there is immediate danger, use emergency services rather than waiting for an email reply.
Sewage overflowing outside
Do this now
- Keep children and pets away from the sewage.
- Note where it is emerging without entering the water or opening unsafe covers.
- Report a suspected public-sewer incident to Anglian Water, explaining any risk to a building or watercourse.
An overflowing drain: report safely
Record the address, the safely visible overflow and which appliances were in use. Stop using affected fixtures where safe and keep clear. Do not repeatedly flush, enter a chamber or try to release pressure through covers; ask for direct advice about a safe next step.
Braintree’s public reporting routes distinguish sewer, highway and surface-water flooding. Anglian Water’s operational contact is 03457 145 145 for its assets. Road drainage is reported to Essex Highways, while the county flood team takes reports of property surface-water flooding. Those reports do not replace 999 where there is danger to life.
Useful next steps
Sources: Where to report flooding · Anglian Water current contact and support · Essex highway drainage · Essex flood reporting
Toilet overflowing
Do this now
Our enquiry form does not confirm an emergency booking and is not continuously monitored.
- Stop flushing the toilet.
- Reduce use of connected fixtures if they worsen the overflow.
- Arrange direct help according to drain ownership.
Multiple drains suddenly blocked
A sudden problem across several outlets or neighbours can involve a downstream shared run. List what is affected and when it started. Ask Anglian Water to assess suspected public-sewer issues before arranging private work on an asset that may be theirs.
Flooding caused by a blocked drain
Do not walk or drive into floodwater: hazards can be hidden. Tell the responsible authority whether the affected drain is on a road, private land or part of a public sewer. Heavy-rain flooding may involve more than a blockage, so avoid making an unsupported diagnosis.
Bad sewage smell in the house
A strong smell should be investigated, especially with visible wastewater or blocked outlets. Keep away from sewage and explain the accompanying symptoms. Do not assume a smell alone proves an emergency sewer collapse; if there is immediate danger, seek emergency assistance directly.
What to do during a drainage emergency
Do this now
Once the immediate incident has been reported, keep a single record of the time, reference number, affected locations and advice received. If someone attends, ask them to record whether they restored flow, identified a private defect or referred the matter to the sewer operator. This makes a repeat incident easier to explain.
Photographs can help later, but only take them from a safe, uncontaminated place. Do not enter floodwater, expose yourself to wastewater or disturb unsafe covers to get evidence. If essential facilities remain unusable, discuss safe arrangements with the appropriate responder rather than assuming that a submitted enquiry has secured attendance.
- Move to safety and keep people away from sewage.
- Avoid adding wastewater to an overflowing system.
- Contact the responsible operator or an appropriate professional directly.
- Keep report references and observations gathered from a safe place.
Useful next steps
Sources: GOV.UK: help during a flood
Should I stop using water when a drain is blocked?
Quick answer
Reduce use of fixtures connected to the affected drain while wastewater backs up. Ask the attending professional which parts of the system can safely be used.
Can I stay in a house with sewage backing up?
There is no blanket answer for a sewage-affected home. Contamination, safe sanitation, electrical hazards and vulnerable occupants matter. Seek appropriate professional advice about safe occupancy and cleaning; use NHS 111 for health concerns and emergency services for immediate danger.
Public sewer flooding and direct contacts
Call Anglian Water on 03457 145 145 for suspected flooding from its sewer and give the exact location and affected properties. Its asset responsibilities can include shared pipes on private land. Where a rural property has private treatment, contact the responsible owner or maintenance provider instead and establish the system before commissioning work.
The council’s district guidance is a useful starting point, but water supply, wastewater and highway drainage are separate. Do not wait for an email enquiry during an active flood. Use emergency services for immediate danger and tell the landlord or manager about damage to a rented or communal property.
Sources: Anglian Water current contact and support · Anglian Water Core Customer Information April 2026 · Small sewage systems rules · Eastlight repairs
Emergency drain unblocking
Before a private call-out, describe the active incident and ask about availability, price and the initial scope. Attendance is not guaranteed through this website. If ownership is unclear or several properties are affected, report to Anglian Water as well rather than delaying a public-sewer assessment.
Emergency drain repairs
Immediate work may be limited to controlling the incident or restoring essential flow. Permanent repair can require investigation, permissions and a separate scope. Ask what is being authorised now, what remains afterwards and how additional costs will be agreed.
Out-of-hours drainage problems
Quick answer
Anglian Water’s sewer-flooding helpline operates around the clock; private contractors set their own availability. This email enquiry service does not provide out-of-hours dispatch.
Emergency drainage costs
Ask whether the quote includes…
Confirm responsibility where possible: public-sewer reporting and a private contractor quotation are different routes.
- Call-out, out-of-hours uplift and VAT.
- The time and work covered by the initial attendance.
- A separate charge for a permanent repair.
- Agreement before additional work.