Report flooding, blockages and water pollution

Flooding

Sea flooding - Environment Agency (opens new window) a 24 hour helpline is available on 0345 988 1188.

Main River flooding - Environment Agency (opens new window) a 24 hour helpline is available on 0345 988 1188.

Ordinary watercourse flooding - Contact Sunderland City Council Lead Local Flood Authority through the main switchboard 0191 520 5555.

Sewer flooding - Northumbrian Water (opens new window) on 0800 328 7648.

Highway road gully flooding - Sunderland City Council are the Highways Authority. Contact Sunderland City Council Drainage Operations on 0191 520 5555. You can also report it on our Report a problem with a drain gully or manhole cover page.

Groundwater flooding - contact Sunderland City Council Lead Local Flood Authority on 0191 520 5555.

Blockages

For any blocked culvert screens or grills report these to LLFA@sunderland.gov.uk or Drainage Operations 0191 520 5555. See the Culverts and ordinary watercourses page for more information about responsibility for culvert screen and ordinary watercourses.

Pollution incidents

Report it to the Environment Agency 0800 80 70 60.

If you think it has come from a sewer then you can also report it to Northumbrian Water 0345 717 1100.

Submit details of flooding to the Council - Flood incident register

Since 2015 Sunderland City Council LLFA have been maintaining an historic flood risk register. This includes over 1000 reports of flooding in and around Sunderland from as early as the 1920's to the current day. The reporting of flooding incidents helps the LLFA to bid for funding to provide mitigation. You can submit reports, photos and videos to LLFA@sunderland.gov.uk.

We will need the following information. Please include dates, photos or videos, location (grid reference preferable, use the Grid Reference Finder (opens new window)) contact details, duration of flooding and any other details you feel are relevant.

Any data provided that goes on the register will be protected under the Data Protection Act 2018. Any other data will be removed after 3 months. It will be held by the Local Authority for internal use and used to identify and prioritise flood risk management in Sunderland in perpetuity. The data will only be shared with 3rd parties for reasons of flood risk assessment or flood improvement works.

See also our Managing our drainage assets page.