Frequently asked questions
How do I report blocked/flooded road gullies?
Blocked or flooded road gullies can be reported by contacting
Ealing Customer Services.
I have dropped my key down a street grid how long will it
take to recover it?
Keys are normally recovered in one hour. Contact
Ealing Customer Services.
How often are the gullies cleansed?
Gullies on main roads are cleansed annually and
gullies on other roads are cleansed bi-annually. View the
gully cleansing schedule for more
information.
I have dropped my key down a street grid how long will it
take to recover it?
Keys are normally recovered in one hour. Contact
Ealing Customer Services.
Who is responsible for maintaining gullies?
Ealing Council maintains all road gullies across the borough.
Blocked or flooded road gullies can be reported online or by
contacting
Ealing Customer Services.
How long will it take to for a gully to be
unblocked?
Blocked gullies causing disruptive flooding are cleared in
one hour. Other blockages are cleared in three working days.
My drain is blocked. Can the council come and clear it?
Ealing Council does not provide a service for the
clearance of drains. Blocked main sewers and minor public sewers
should be reported to Thames Water Customer Centre on 08459 200800.
Thames Water provides a drain clearing service for a cost of
approximately £60. Sewers that fall within their responsibility are
cleared free of charge. Private drains and some sewers are the
responsibility of the properties that drain into them. Ealing
Council can require the property to carry out repairs and
maintenance, and carry out works in default if that becomes
necessary, and recover costs from the owners of the premises. To
report a defective sewer that is not your responsibility contact
Ealing Customer Services.
What is the difference between a gully, drain and sewer?
Road gullies have grates and are found on the road
surface near the kerb. Rain water flows through road gullies
into an underground drainage system. Road gullies are owned
and maintained by the council and both the public storm water
sewers and foul waters sewers are owned and maintained by Thames
Water Plc. The council owns and maintains the drainage pipes
that connect the gullies to Thames Water's main storm water sewer.
Sometimes the drain pipe between the gully and the main sewer
becomes damaged and this needs major work to restore the drainage
system, in these cases, simple cleansing of the gully is
ineffective. A drain serves a single property, and is always the
responsibility of the owner of that property to maintain and clear.
A sewer takes drainage from more than one property, and may be the
responsibility of either Thames Water, or the joint responsibility
of the owners of the properties that drain into it.
Why don't street cleaners sweep leaves down
gullies?
The council's street cleaning contractors are forbidden from
sweeping leaves and other debris into the public drainage system.
It is also forbidden to dispose of any material such as paint and
oil into the public drainage system, apart from contaminating the
water system it could cause poisonous fumes or an underground fire.
The council will take appropriate action against any person found
to be contaminating the underground drainage system.