Flooding

Be prepared

Residents are responsible for protecting their properties from flooding. We strongly advise all residents to investigate if their property is at risk of flooding as soon as possible and if so to take proactive action now to protect their property. Information on flood risk in the area can be found here. 

If your property is at risk you can sign up to the warnings in your area on the Environment Agency Website or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

Take action

Visit Oxfordshire County Council’s flood toolkit – which gives advice to homeowners, businesses, landowners and the community on flood prevention and information on how to fund property level flood prevention measures. You can also find out who’s responsible for the different types of flooding.

Please note that South Oxfordshire District Council do not supply sandbags. Sandbags are relatively ineffective when compared to purpose designed flood protection products. If you feel that you would still benefit from sandbags, you can buy unfilled sacks and a supply of sand from most DIY stores and Builders Merchants.

It’s an emergency I’m worried for my safety

If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else call Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service on 999.

Other sources of emergency help

If your property has flooded or you are worried that it may flood imminently there is advice on the emergency page of the Oxfordshire Flood Toolkit and in certain specific circumstances organisations may be able to assist you.

Useful contact details

Oxfordshire Highways – 0345 310 1111

To report flooding relating to a highway such as blocked ditches, blocked drains or flooding on a road call Oxfordshire County Council Floodline or visit the Fix My Street website. Oxfordshire Highways also provide emergency response to flooding by closing roads, setting up diversions, pumping flooded highways, and providing sandbags to properties and communities threatened by flooded highways in accordance with their sandbag policy.

National Highways – 0300 123 5000 (say ‘report’)

To report flooding on the M40 or A34 contact National Highways.

Environment Agency – 0345 988 1188 or 0800 80 70 60

To report flooding from a main river, contact the Environment Agency through the Floodline.

Thames Water Utilities – 0800 316 9800

To report flooding from a Thames Water burst water main or sewer.

Foul sewer or water main flooding

Sewer flooding may occur for a number of reasons, including a failure of the sewerage system; a blockage in the drainage pipes; or when the sewerage system is not designed to deal with the amount of sewage and/or water entering the system. This can mean that sewer flooding can be a more frequent event during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

This Thames Water advice on sewer flooding should help you identify who is responsible. Report sewer flooding or burst water main online here.

Foul sewer drainage

Blockages or defects to sewers are either the responsibility of the local sewerage undertaker (Thames Water) or the owner of the property that the drainage serves.

Generally speaking, you’re usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are usually outside of property boundaries, and sewers. If you suspect a blockage speak to your neighbours and try to find out who is affected. If you suspect it is only you, (i.e. the blockage is in your drain), it is the responsibility of the house owner to clear the blockage. If more than one property is affected, contact the statutory undertaker Thames Water who is responsible.

This Thames Water advice on blockages should help you identify the cause of the problem and who is responsible.

Land Drainage Consent

You can download an ordinary water course land drainage consent application form here and read the guidance notes here.