The council can offer advice and help on a wide range of pollution problems, as well as taking formal action to investigate and resolve a nuisance. In general terms, pollution can be classed as anything that might be harmful to the environment or our own health, and includes oil and chemical spillages, excessive noise, smoke and fumes from fires and chimneys, and many other potential problems.
Top of page
For blocked road gullies, please contact the council’s highways maintenance section, or call 0845 6001666.
The responsibility for unblocking a drain usually lies with the owner of the property served by it, until it reaches the public sewer or leaves their property. If the pipework serving you and your neighbours does not enter the public sewer network the responsibility is likely to be shared by all the properties served by it. You may need to employ a drainage contractor and these can be found in your local telephone directory, or by an internet search. You are advised to get a few different quotes, and to speak to your neighbours as they may also be affected and be willing to share the cost.
As of 1st October 2011 the drainage systems that were previously private sewers, became the responsibility of Yorkshire Water so long as the system enters the existing public sewerage network, and they should be contacted about any problems on 0845 124 2429 or visit their website for further information. Further information can also be found on the frequently asked questions download below.
Yorkshire Water (external website)
Drainage problems can be quite complex, and the law which determines who is responsible can also be complicated. If you are unsure who is responsible, you can report it online (opens in new window), or by calling (01482) 396301, providing details of your complaint and we will advise further. For reporting emergencies outside of normal office hours, contact the customer call centre on (01482) 393939.
The following pdf document gives further advice and information on private drainage problems.
Drainage frequently asked questions (pdf 80kb opens in new window)
Top of page
Chemical spillages and pollution
Pollution incidents such as oil or chemical spillages and pollution of watercourses and groundwater, should be reported to the Environment Agency using their 24 hour incident hotline 0800 807060.
Drinking water
Yorkshire Water should also be notified if a drinking water supply is at risk of being contaminated, their number is 0845 124 2424.
Non-emergencies
You can report non-urgent pollution issues online (opens in new window) or call us on (01482) 396301, providing details of your complaint.
Further information
Further information on water quality and flooding is available on the Environment Agency website.
Environment Agency - Water Quality
For issues relating to flooding of the highway please contact the council's highways maintenance section.
Top of page
Any oil storage, such as tanks containing heating oil, diesel and waste oil, should be routinely checked and maintained to avoid the risk of causing pollution, through leaks and spills. For larger oil storage on commercial sites, the tank may also need to comply with the Oil Storage Regulations. It is always a good idea to keep your domestic heating oil tank in good condition, and ideally it should be properly bunded (contained within a sealed area or unit), so that in the event of a leak, the oil will not soak away into the ground. This can cause a great deal of damage to your property and the wider environment and can be very costly to clean up. As the owner you may be liable and even face prosecution if the oil pollutes groundwater or a nearby river. You may wish to check with your home or business insurance policy to make sure you are covered for such incidents.
The Environment Agency have produced further guidance on oil storage in the following leaflets
Oil storage advice leaflet (pdf 205kb opens in new window)
Pollution Prevention Guidelines (pdf 274kb opens in new window)
The UK spill association have a website which lists accredited contractors who can give specialist advice and assistance for cleaning up oil and chemical spillages:
UK Spill contractors (external website)
Top of page
The food services team may sample private drinking water supplies, depending on the volume and usage. In general the quality of rivers and certain other water bodies are monitored by the Environment Agency, however, where there has been a pollution incident or a risk from contaminated land, the council’s environmental control team may arrange for samples to be taken as part of their investigation.
For further information on bathing water or river water quality please visit the Environment Agency website:
Environment Agency - What's in Your Backyard? (external website)
Top of page
The following pdf document provides useful advice and information on septic tanks and soakaways. If you would like to speak to us for advice, please complete our pollution enquiry form (opens in new window) and we will get in touch with you to discuss your query. Alternatively, you can call us on (01482) 396301, providing details of your enquiry.
Advice leaflet on septic tanks (pdf 232kb opens in new window)
Advice on registering your septic tank or sewage discharge (pdf 136kb opens in new window)
Top of page
If you have no mains drainage, the chances are you have a septic tank or some other sewage treatment system. Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, all discharges from septic tanks and sewage treatment plants need to be registered with the Environment Agency before the 1st January 2012. This applies to both new and existing systems. You will be issued with a permit to discharge (previously known as a consent to discharge), or you may just need to register for an exemption.
For further details about septic tanks and to register, please visit the Environment Agency website.
EnvironmentAgency (external website)
You can also download the following guidance document from the Environment Agency, which explains more about registration.
Summary guidance for householders who need to register a sewage discharge (pdf 105kb opens in new window)
Top of page
Yorkshire Water will be taking over responsibility of privately owned and operated sewage pumping stations (which connect to the public sewer network and serve more than one property) on or before 1 October 2016.
For further details on the transfer of private sewers please contact Yorkshire Water.
Yorkshire Water (external website)
Top of page
As with any new development, the effects of pollution on the natural environment, and the potential sensitivity of the area to adverse effects of pollution, must be taken into account to prevent unacceptable risks.
Pollution of the water environment should be prevented during the construction and operation of new development, for example by using good site management and construction practices, to avoid accidental leaks and spillages or inadequate foul water drainage. It is also important that historic contamination is remediated safely to an appropriate standard during development, to prevent unacceptable risks to the environment and to the proposed use.
Large parts of the East Riding are underlain by principal aquifers (water bearing rocks), which are an important source of public drinking water, and there are a number of Source Protection Zones (SPZ's) around the various abstractions. There are also numerous surface water features that play an important role in supporting wildlife and agriculture, and which are vulnerable to pollution.
The Environment Agency are a consultee to the planning process, on issues to do with waste management and protecting the water environment, among other things. There is further advice and guidance available on their website, on what developers need to consider when assessing risks to groundwater and surface water from contamination.
Environment Agency - planning resources (external website)
Yorkshire Water also provide guidance to developers on connecting to the mains network.
Yorkshire Water - developer services (external website)
Top of page
