West Oxfordshire District Council

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Drains and sewers

Public sewers
If you suspect a public sewer problem contact Thames Water, call:

0845 9200 800
0845 7200 898 (Minicom or Typetalk)

A public sewer is the responsibility of the water company and is generally referred to as the main sewer.

All public sewers are shown on a set of maps provided by the Thames Water. These can be viewed online at our offices.

Your responsibilities
If your property is connected to a main sewer, it will drain through a private drain or sewer and into the public sewer. The private section within your property boundary is your responsibility, perhaps jointly with one or more of your neighbours, and you are expected to deal with any drainage problems / repairs. For more information please see our:

Frequently asked questions

If you are moving home
We strongly advise you find out the extent of your responsibilities if you are moving home. For newly built houses, we suggest that developers lay their drainage systems to water company specifications so that they can become their responsibility. Ask your solicitor to check.

For more information
We can help and advise you of the course of action you should take if you experience a blocked sewer or drain, contact us: