Drainage

Highway drains help to keep water off the highway and make it safe for drivers and other road users.

In Kent, the highway drainage system is made up of:

• roadside drains and channels (gullies)
• chambers and manholes
• ponds and lagoons
• pumping stations
• miles of underground pipes

Find out more about what we look after

Highway flooding

Flooding can occur on the highway when large amounts of rain fall on the road in a short period of time.

Flooding can occur on the highway when large amounts of rain fall on the road in a short period of time. During periods of heavy rain it can sometimes take longer for the water to drain away but once it stops raining the water soon clears away.

In a few cases, the flood water may keep increasing and possibly overwhelm the drainage system, even after it stops raining. In these cases we will attend the site to check for faults and make any necessary repairs.

Blocked drains are one of the reasons why water on the highway might not drain away. Drains can become blocked as a result of:

• leaves or other debris covering the drain grill
• pipes blocked with debris or silt
• pipes blocked by tree roots 
• deteriorated or cracked pipes 
• breaks in the pipes due to ground movements

In an emergency

If you see flooding on the highway that could cause a danger to the public, or if floodwater is at risk of entering private property, call 0300 333 5539.

It is helpful if you can give us as much information as possible, we need:

• The location of the flood including any landmarks such as house numbers that will help us to find it.
• The road name
• The name of the town or village
• The size of the flood e.g. is it covering the whole of the road or washing over the kerb onto the foot path

The more information we have when flooding is reported, the quicker we can identify the correct course of action. Actions we could take include:

• Putting out flood warning signs to advise drivers of the hazard
• Clear the flood water with a large tanker
• Provide people with sandbags to stop the water getting into their property.

Non emergencies

If a drain is blocked but is not causing dangerous flooding, it will be cleansed as part of our scheduled cleaning programme.

How you can help

There are some things you can do to help keep roads free from water.

• Don't tip waste such as concrete and oil down the drains as this can block the pipes and contaminate nearby streams, rivers and land.
• If you see signs on a road telling you that cleansing will take place, please park elsewhere as we often clean drains in roads where there would normally be parked cars, and if the cars are in the way we can’t clean them. 
•  If you notice that fallen leaves are beginning to cover the gully grills and feel that you can safely remove them then please do. These can be disposed of in your normal rubbish bin or in a compost bin. .

Be safe

When removing leaves from drains, be careful not to step into traffic on the road and be aware of pedestrians on pavements.

Don’t lift the drain covers or put your hands into the drain as there might be sharp objects you cannot see. Wearing gloves is always a good idea if you are clearing leaves by hand.