Report a flood (who to contact)
This page explains which authority is responsible for the different types of floods that may occur in Peterborough and how to make a report to them.
What type of flooding is it?
Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
An emergency flood is one that causes an immediate threat to life, safety, or structural integrity where water rapidly enters living areas or reaches electrical systems.
A non-emergency flood involves minor, contained or slow water leaks and external pooling that cause localised property or garden dampness without immediate danger.
If you don't think it is an emergency., continue to read this page to find out how to report non-emergency flooding to the relevant authority.
Checklist of things you can do just before or during a flood
Read our advice on what to do just before or during a flood, including how to keep informed, having a grab bag ready, keeping in touch with family, and preventing floodwater from entering your property.
Keep up-to-date with flood alerts
- Sign up to receive flood warnings by phone, text or email on the GOV.UK website
- View Met Office weather warnings
When river flooding is likely, the Environment Agency issues flood alerts and warnings for main rivers and sea flooding through TV and local radio. You can also view flood warnings set by the Environment Agency on the GOV.UK website or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
Help from the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Calling Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service in an emergency is free and you will not be charged for their service. However, if something is not deemed an emergency, firefighters can still attend to help, but you may be charged a fee. You can read more about this:
Contact Peterborough City Council to report non-emergency flooding at your property where there isn’t immediate danger or risk to life.
This is for flooding which you believe has been caused by surface water runoff, blocked drains (outside your boundary), ditches, watercourses, or highway drainage problems and that has resulted in flooding:
- Inside residential property
- Inside non-residential property – e.g. shops, businesses, public buildings etc
- On a driveway or garden
How we help
We will log your report on our system and come to inspect the flood as soon as practically possible. We will investigate the source of the flood and decide on the course of action. Which action we take depends solely on where the flood comes from.
How to report
- Report online (you will receive a response within 10 working days)
- Call Customer Services on 01733 747474 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
If the flooding at your property becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
Contact Peterborough City Council to report a flood on the highway or a blocked drain.
This is for:
- A blocked or overflowing drain
- Flooding on the highway – e.g. roads, pavements, cycle paths, underpasses etc
- Issues with manhole covers and drains - sunken, rattling, broken, missing etc
- Flooding that isn’t an immediate risk to life
How we help
We will attend the site to inspect the flood. The action we take next depends on the location, source and the level of the flooding.
How to report
Broken or missing manhole covers
Broken or missing manhole covers should not be reported online. Instead, they should be treated as a potential emergency and reported by phone.
Please call our Customer Services Team on 01733 747474 between Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. During evenings, weekends and bank holidays, please call our out-of-hours emergency number on 0845 604 3127 (calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge).
Flooding on the highway or blocked drains
- Report online (you will receive a response within 10 working days)
- Call Customer Services on 01733 747474 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Call 0845 604 3127 if the flooding is out-of-hours and requires a road closure (calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge)
If the flooding becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
Contact Peterborough City Council to report water rising from the ground that is not an emergency.
Groundwater flooding can occur when the level of water within the rock or soil underground (known as the water table) rises and reaches ground level. The water then starts to seep through to the surface and can cause flooding. Groundwater flooding can happen both outside and inside. Water may rise up through floors or underground rooms in buildings. For more information about groundwater flooding, please read the Environment Agency's groundwater flooding blog.
How we help
We will attend the site to inspect the flood, investigate the source of the water and decide on the best course of action. The action we take depends solely on where the water is coming from and who may be responsible.
How to report
- Report online (you will receive a response within 10 working days)
- Call Customer Services on 01733 747474 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Call 0845 604 3127 if the flooding is out-of-hours and requires a road closure (calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge)
If the flooding becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
If the flooding is affecting your property (internal flooding), please call 999 or one of the numbers above depending on the time of day and situation.
Contact Peterborough City Council to report flooding from ditches and streams.
How we help
We will attend the site to inspect the flood, investigate the source of the water and decide on the best course of action. The action we take depends solely on where the water is coming from and who may be responsible. We can also liaise with the Riparian Owner (Landowner) of the ditch/stream and advise on what course of action is required to eliminate the flooding now and in the future.
How to report
- Report online (you will receive a response within 10 working days)
- Call Customer Services on 01733 747474 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Call 0845 604 3127 if the flooding is out-of-hours and requires a road closure (calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge)
If the flooding becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
If the flooding is putting your property at risk, please call 999 or one of the numbers above depending on the time of day and situation.
Internal Drainage Boards
Please note that some ordinary watercourses are managed by the Internal Drainage Boards. There are a number of Internal Drainage Boards in Peterborough. To find out if you are in one of their districts please contact the Association of Drainage Authorities.
Contact the Environment Agency for flooding from a main river or tide.
You only need to contact the Environment Agency if it's a main river - e.g. River Nene, Car Dyke. Check the ArcGIS map to see if the flood is from a main river or not.
You can also tell if the Environment Agency is responsible for a river if it has their branding on bridges or sluices, or has flood warning notices or river level gauges.
If the flooding becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
Contact Anglian Water to report a burst water main.
- Report a burst water main on the Anglian Water website
- Call Anglian Water on 03457 145 145
- Call Anglian Water's free 24/7 leakline number on 0800 771 881
If the flooding becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
Contact Anglian Water to report a burst surface or foul sewer pipe.
- Report the burst pipe on the Anglian Water website
- Call Anglian Water on 03457 145 145
- Read Anglian Water's advice page on blocked pipes
If the flooding becomes an emergency and poses a danger, please call 999.
Contact National Highways for flooding on the A1 or A47.
In an emergency, call 999. Other incidents should be reported via the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.
