Blocked or damaged street drains

We look after the street drains (gullies) on adopted public roads across Liverpool. We have a lot of drains to look after, so we can't get to all of them regularly. If you spot a problem, please tell us.

Drains we manage include roadside gullys, linear 'ACO' drains and beany drains:

  • Traditional 'gully' drain at the side of a kerb
  • ACO is a long, narrow channel drain set flush into the ground
  • Beany drains combine kerbs and holes for water to drain through

Signs of a blocked road drain

  • Water is pooled around the drain.
  • Water is draining very slowly.
  • Leaves and mud covering the drain.

If a drain in your street is covered in leaves or debris and it’s safe to do so, brush them aside. This helps rainwater flow away quickly during storms. If you can’t clear it safely, let us know and we’ll get to it as soon as possible.

What you can report

Tell us if you see a drain that:

  • is blocked or surface water is causing flooding
  • has a damaged grid cover
  • has a missing grid cover

If the damage is to a utilities manhole, this is not our responsibility. Please report broken or missing manhole covers directly to the responsible utilities company. 

Is it an emergency?

Missing drain covers are a priority for us to fix so please call us to report these. You should also call us if water levels are rising rapidly, there is a danger of water entering a property, or there is a risk to public safety.

To report an emergency call 0151 233 3001.

If there is no immediate risk, please report it online.

Examples of non-emergency issues

The examples shown are non-emergency, which we will inspect within 10 days and let you know if any repair is needed. Please report these online.

  • Example of pooling water due to blocked drain, but not an emergency.
  • Water pooling due to debris blocking grid, but not an emergency.

Examples of emergency issues

The examples shown are likely to cause a danger to traffic and pedestrians - we will inspect these within 2 hours. Please call us to report this type of damage.

  • Water not draining, forcing traffic into other lane and possible danger to property.
  • Drain cover missing and the opening is hidden by debris. High-risk for pedestrians.

How to report it

You can report non-emergency issues online. To help us locate and understand the severity of the problem, provide a photo of the issue and surrounding landmarks, if you can. Only take a photograph if it is safe.

  • If you have a 'My Account', sign in to track your report . If not, you can create one.
  • You can submit your report without an account, but please leave your contact details if you want updates.
  • If the issue is already reported, you can subscribe to get updates.

Report a blocked or damaged drain [LINK TO JADU FORM]

Read our privacy notice which tells you how we use your data.

What happens next?

For emergency reports, we will attend the site within 2 hours to assess the risk level. For example, if flooding poses an urgent danger to homes or roads, or where a missing drain cover is a risk to pedestrians or vehicles.

Routine blockages and minor damage are investigated and scheduled for cleaning or repair within 10 days.

If you have a My Account, have left your contact details or have subscribed to updates on an issue, we will keep you informed of progress until the issue is resolved.