Road gullies and drains

Overview

We maintain more than 106,000 highway gullies to help manage surface water and reduce the risk of flooding on the highway network. 

We inspect and clean gullies in a planned maintenance programme. We determine cleaning frequencies using road classification, asset condition, flood risk, and historical performance data. 

Gully cleansing removes silt, leaves, litter, and other debris from highway gullies and connecting pipework to help surface water drain effectively.

If you think leaves, dirt or litter are blocking the gully grating  make a report under the 'street sweeping' category to clear it.

You should report a problem to us if:

• water flowing off the road is at risk of entering a building, for example, a house or garage
• there is standing water on the road obstructing safe passage
• water on the road has not drained away after the rain has stopped
• there is a risk of ice forming on the road
• we have not already scheduled maintenance work
• the grid or drain cover is rocking or making a noise

Before reporting a blocked gully

Check whether the gully is already scheduled for cleaning, it might save you time reporting it. 

View our Interactive Gully Map.

Gully map key

• Green – Cleaned this financial year
• Blue – Scheduled for cleaning this financial year
• Orange – Gully has been visited but a defect has been identified
• Clear circle – Not scheduled for cleaning this financial year

If the issue isn't already identified or scheduled for cleaning, you can report a blocked gully or drainage problem online:

Report a gully or drain issue

If the grid or drain cover is missing or lifted call us on 0300 123 5025.

How highway gullies work

A highway gully typically consists of a surface grate and an underground chamber (known as a gully pot).

The gully pot collects:

• silt
• mud
• leaves
• stones
• road debris

This prevents material from entering and blocking the wider drainage system. 

Water in a gully does not necessarily indicate a blockage. Many gullies are designed to retain water in the trap to prevent odours and vermin entering the drainage network. 

How we prioritise gully cleaning

We use a targeted maintenance programme focused on locations with the greatest potential flood risk.

Factors considered include:

• previous flooding incidents
• silt accumulation levels
• highway classification
• risk to properties
• traffic volumes
• local drainage performance

As a result, some gullies are cleaned more frequently than others, with cleaning cycles ranging from one to three years. 

Unfortunately, a clean gully does not guarantee that flooding will not occur.

Flooding can also be caused by:

• blocked pipework
• damaged drainage systems
• insufficient drainage capacity
• watercourse issues
• extreme weather events

When we cannot access a gully 

Occasionally, our crews are unable to access gullies safely for cleansing. 

You can help by avoiding parking over gullies and grids when cleansing works are scheduled. 

Common access issues 

• parked vehicles
• utility works
• roadworks
• temporary traffic management
• adverse weather conditions

Heavy rainfall can reduce the effectiveness of cleansing operations because high water levels make it difficult to remove debris and assess the gully condition.

What equipment we use for gully cleansing

Our specialist gully cleansing vehicles are equipped with: 

• High-pressure water jets to help clear blaockages and clean the gully
• Powerful vacuum equipment to remove water, silt and debris
• Storage tanks to safely contain the material removed
• CCTV inspection equipment, which can be used where further investigation is needed.

Drainage on private land

Riparian ownership

You may be a riparian owner if a watercourse:

• runs through your land
• runs beneath your land
• forms part of your property boundary

Property deeds will normally confirm ownership responsibilities.

Responsibilities of a riparian owner

Riparian owners are responsible for:

• keeping watercourses clear
• removing obstructions where appropriate
• allowing water to flow freely
• maintaining structures within the watercourse

Public sewers

United Utilities is responsible for:

• public foul sewers
• public surface water sewers

If flooding from a privately owned watercourse is affecting neighbouring land or property, contact the Council.