When it counts as an emergency
- Sewage coming up through a toilet, shower, bath or outside drain
- Dirty water flooding a yard, garden or ground floor
- A manhole overflowing onto a path or drive
- Ground sinking over a drain run
Emergency Drain Services: what the job involves
A drain emergency is any drain problem that puts your health or home at risk. The most common is sewage coming up through a toilet, shower or outside drain. Flooding from a blocked or collapsed drain is another. Because dirty water spreads germs, it needs help fast.
You can send an emergency request online 24/7, including nights and bank holidays. We pass it to a local drain engineer, who contacts you and asks what is happening. Once they arrange to attend, they find the blockage or failure and clear it so the drain flows again.
Some emergencies are the water company's job rather than yours. For example, a blockage in a public sewer or a shared lateral drain belongs to Severn Trent around Wolverhampton. Citizens Advice explains this split between your pipes and theirs. The engineer can tell you which side of the line the problem sits on.
What to do while you wait
- Stop using toilets, sinks and the washing machine
- Keep children and pets away from the water
- Switch off the power at the fuse box if water reaches electrics and it is safe
- Wear gloves and wash your hands after any contact with dirty water
How the request works
- 1
Send your request
Use the form with your postcode and a short note about the problem. Photos help if you can add them later. - 2
A local engineer contacts you
We pass your request to an engineer who covers your area. They call or email you to agree a time. - 3
Contain the problem
The engineer finds the blockage or failure and stops the flow. They then clear standing water where they can. - 4
Clear and advise
They clear the drain and test it. If the drain needs a repair, they explain it and agree the price with you.
Typical emergency drain services costs
UK price guides put drain unblocking at about £80 to £250 outside London (Fantastic Services and UK Plumber Spot, 2026). Emergency visits at night or on a bank holiday often cost more. If the problem sits in a public sewer, the water company should fix it at no cost to you. These are typical ranges, and you can ask your engineer for a price before they start.
Emergency Drain Services services we cover
Emergency Drain Services: frequently asked questions
What counts as a drain emergency?
Sewage coming up through a toilet, shower or outside drain is an emergency. So is water flooding into your home from a blocked drain. If there is a health risk or damage is spreading, send an urgent request.
What should I do while I wait?
Stop using the toilets, sinks and washing machine, because every flush adds to the flood. Keep children and pets away from dirty water. If water reaches sockets or wiring, switch off the power at the fuse box if it is safe.
Will the water company help with sewage flooding?
If the blockage sits in a public sewer or a shared lateral drain, the water company must deal with it. Around Wolverhampton, the sewerage company is Severn Trent. However, a blockage in your own private drain is yours to fix.
How do I request help?
Fill in the short form on any page with your postcode and a note about the problem. We pass your request to a local engineer, who contacts you to agree a time. Because we have no phone line, the form is the fastest way to reach us.
Can I send a request at night or at the weekend?
Yes, the form stays open 24/7, including bank holidays. Mark your request as urgent if water is still escaping. The engineer then knows to treat it as an emergency.
Is the quote free?
Yes, the quote request is free and there is no obligation to go ahead. You can ask the engineer to talk you through the likely cost before they start. However, if the job changes once they can see it, they tell you before doing more.
Further reading
Our guide on what to do in a drain emergency walks you through the first steps. For water from a burst pipe rather than a drain, see our emergency plumber page. If the drain keeps failing, a CCTV drain survey shows why.
Helpful guides
Emergency Services
Emergency Drain Problems: What to Do Before the Engineer Arrives
When a drain emergency hits, the first few minutes matter. Here's exactly what to do, what to avoid, and who to call across Wolverhampton and the wider West Midlands. Drain MaintenanceThe Real Warning Signs of a Blocked Drain
Blocked drains rarely happen overnight. Here are the early warning signs to watch for, backed by Water UK's national data, and a clear answer on who is responsible for the repair.Related services
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