Flooding can occur anywhere, even if you live inland or away from watercourses, because the drainage system - whether open watercourses or pipes - can be overwhelmed by the amount of water it is expected to carry. In addition, when the ground is saturated even small extra amounts of rainfall will have difficulty draining away from gardens and enclosed spaces.
It is important to remember that it is the responsibility of property owners to take appropriate action to protect their property from flooding. Information on how to protect your property is available on the National Flood Forum and Know Your Flood Risk websites (links below).
In the event of a flood focus on the safety of you and your family.
• Be prepared to act quickly and get yourself to safety.
• Don’t walk or drive through flood water.
• Don’t let children play in flood water.
• Don’t walk on sea defences or riverbanks.
• Call 999 if you are in danger.
• Cooperate with the emergency services if they tell you to evacuate during flooding.
Floodwater is dangerous
• Six inches (15 cms) of fast flowing water can knock you over and two feet (61cms) of water will float your car.
• Flooding can cause manhole covers to come off, leaving hidden dangers.
• When water levels are high be aware that bridges may be dangerous to walk or drive over.
• Culverts are dangerous when flooded.
• Look out for other hazards such as fallen power lines and trees.
• Avoid contact with floodwater as it may be contaminated but if this is unavoidable then wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Make sure you stay safe during the flood itself. Practical advice on what to do to protect yourself and your property is available to download below.
Who to contact:
1. Call 999 if you are in danger.
2. Contact Southampton City Council via Actionline (0800 519 1919) Monday to Friday: 8am – 7pm and Saturday: 10 am – 4pm or Out of Hours Service (023 8023 3344) at all other times.
3. If you are insured contact your insurance company and tell them what has happened. Tell your landlord if applicable.
If possible, move your outside belongings to higher ground. Move anything not fixed down such as dustbins and garden furniture to a safer location. If the water is likely to enter your property then follow the advice contained in the section above.
Don’t walk or drive through the flood water.
Who to contact:
1. Call 999 if you are in danger.
2. Contact Southampton City Council via Actionline (0800 519 1919) Monday to Friday: 8am – 7pm and Saturday: 10 am – 4pm or Out of Hours Service (023 8023 3344) at all other times.
If the flooding appears to be from the public sewer call Southern Water immediately (0845 278 0845). If it is a problem with the private drains serving your property you will need to contact a private drainage contractor. If in doubt call Southern Water and their specialist advisers will be able to give you advice on what to do.
If you suspect a leak from the water mains contact Southern Water on their dedicated leakline (0800 820 999) which is open 24 hours. If the water leak is inside your garden/property then it is probably a fault on your own supply pipe for which you are responsible.
Southern Water owns and maintains the water mains which carry water to homes and businesses. Your home is linked to the water main by a service pipe. Responsibility for this underground pipe is split between the homeowner and Southern Water.
• The homeowner is legally responsible for the section of pipe from the boundary of the public highway and your property – this is called the supply pipe. You may share the supply pipe with other people and this means that you also share responsibility for leaks with any neighbours supplied by the same pipe.
• Southern Water are responsible for the section between the water main and the boundary of the street beneath which the main runs – this is called the communication pipe.
• If water is leaking from the outside stop tap, the water meter or the joints around the meter (if fitted), Southern Water are responsible for putting this right.
• Any leaks on internal plumbing are the responsibility of the householder and you should contact a plumber to arrange necessary repairs.
If you are unsure of the layout at your premises you can contact the Southern Water Customer Service Centre (0845 278 0845).
How do I know there’s a leak?
Apart from the visible signs, such as water bubbling out of the ground or a very damp patch in your garden on a dry day, there are other ways of checking whether there is a leak.
If your water supply is metered you can carry out a simple check. Take a reading from the meter, then either turn off the supply indoors or make sure you have no taps or water-using appliances (e.g. washing machine or dishwasher) running. After one hour, take another meter reading. If the reading is higher, you probably have a leak.
Depending on where the leak is, you may also notice a slight hissing noise, particularly at night time when it is quiet. Where water is not obviously leaking above the ground, Southern Water offer up to one hour’s free leak detection work. Contact the Southern Water Customer Service Centre (0845 278 0845) for further information.
Southampton City Council
