Overview
Report a blocked drain or flooding
Highway drainage and gully cleansing
Staffordshire’s highway drainage system is built to carry water away from roads. However, heavy or long-lasting rain can still cause problems, even if the system is well maintained.
We manage around 165,000 gullies, so we prioritise work based on need.
How often are gullies cleaned?
We regularly clean gullies across Staffordshire as part of a scheduled programme. The cleaning frequency is based on silt levels and the type of road, using data we've gathered over recent years.
Urban class A and B roads
- Generally have higher silt levels and varied traffic speeds and volumes
- Require more frequent (annual) cleanses
Rural class A and B roads
- Feature high traffic volumes and accommodate higher speeds
- These will be cleansed on an annual basis
Rural class C and unclassified routes (D and U)
- Typically have lower silt levels than Urban A and B class routes but higher silt levels than Urban C, D and U class routes
- These gullies will be cleansed once every two years
Urban class C and unclassified roads (D and U)
- Typically have lower silt levels due to lower traffic speeds and volumes
- These routes will be cleansed once every three years
In addition to a routine cleaning schedule, ad hoc cleansing operations take place 1 to 2 days a week in targeted locations based on risk-assessed priority.
Who is responsible?
Flooding can happen for different reasons, and different organisations are responsible depending on the type of flooding.
Below is a summary of who is responsible for each type.
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire County Highways are responsible for highways drains. Staffordshire County Council Lead Local Flood Authority have responsibilities for local flood risk
Landowner
The landowner is responsible for ditches and watercourses and also piped watercourses and culverts.
Water company
The water company is responsible for public surface water sewers and foul sewers.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is responsible for critical watercourses and main rivers and also emergency response.
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