Stourbridge is a town of about 57,000 people, according to the 2021 Census. It sits on the River Stour, about nine miles south of central Wolverhampton. We take plumbing and drain requests from Wollaston, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Norton, Amblecote, Wordsley and Lye. Because the form stays open 24/7, you can send a request the moment a problem starts.
Stourbridge was once the centre of British glass making, and the Red House Glass Cone at Wordsley still stands by the canal. Much of the glass trade sat in Wordsley, Amblecote and Oldswinford. Workers' terraces from that era still line streets in those areas and in Lye. Many of them drain through old clay pipes, often shared behind the houses.
Pedmore, Norton and Oldswinford have more 1930s semis and larger detached homes. Their drains are younger, yet many now pass through mature gardens with big trees. While the trees add to the area's appeal, their roots can reach old joints. As a result, root blockages turn up here as well as in the older terraces.
The Stourbridge Canal and the River Stour run through the town. Some low spots near them can collect surface water in heavy rain. Severn Trent runs the public sewers and shared lateral drains in Stourbridge. Drains that only serve your home are yours to maintain.
If you live near the canal or the river in Stourbridge, keep your outside gullies clear of leaves in autumn. Low spots collect surface water in heavy rain, so a clear gully gives it somewhere to go. Because many older terraces share a rear drain, tell your neighbours if yours backs up. A shared blockage is Severn Trent's job to clear.
Yes, we take requests from across Stourbridge, including Wollaston, Pedmore, Norton, Amblecote, Wordsley and Lye. We pass each one to a local engineer who covers the town. You can request emergency plumbing, leak and burst pipe repairs, or drain work.
Since October 2011, most shared lateral drains in England belong to the water company. In Stourbridge, the sewers belong to Severn Trent. Drains that only serve your home are still yours.
Many workers' terraces in Lye, Wordsley and Amblecote still have old clay drains. Their joints loosen with age, which lets roots in and waste catch. A camera survey shows the state of the pipe.
Turn your stop tap clockwise to stop the water, as WaterSafe advises. Then switch off the heating and open the taps to drain the pipes. Finally, send an urgent request so we can pass it to a local plumber.