The request form on this page accepts messages 24/7. Mark your request urgent if water is rising, to help the engineer decide what to do first. Then use the questions below when the engineer replies.
The request form accepts addresses in Pocklington and these nearby districts and villages:
Pocklington is a market town east of York, at the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. It lies in the East Riding, not North Yorkshire. About 10,100 people lived in the town at the 2021 Census. Its council and its rules differ from those in York, although the pipes work the same way.
The East Riding council covers the town, so its drainage advice applies here. The council says a sewer is a pipe that drains more than one property. It also says Yorkshire Water is responsible for most sewers in the area, while private drains stay with the owner. Check the council page if you are unsure.
The Market Place and Market Street have older homes and shops. Burnby Hall Gardens and the Pocklington Canal are well-known local sights. Older properties often have pipes that owners changed over many years. A camera survey shows what is under the floor, since plans may be missing.
Newer estates sit on the edges of the town. Their pipes are usually more modern. Even so, a blocked shared drain can still affect several homes at once. Ask your neighbours if their drains are slow too.
Villages around Pocklington may not have mains sewers. Some homes use septic tanks, so ask the seller where the tank sits. Ask when it was last emptied, because a full tank causes trouble. The general binding rules say a tank must not discharge to a watercourse.
Pocklington has large gardens in places. Tree roots can enter small cracks in old pipes, because they seek water. A camera survey shows whether roots are causing slow drains. That is worth knowing before you pay for another clearance.
Heavy rain tests gullies and gutters. Keep them clear of leaves, so storm water can leave the garden. Look at the gullies after a storm, because silt collects there fast. Silt and leaves collect there fast.
Outside runs block in their own ways, so read blocked manholes and outside drains. If an outside drain keeps filling, read about why outside drains block and how they are cleared.
Pocklington is in the East Riding, so East Riding of Yorkshire Council covers it. The council says a sewer is a pipe that drains more than one property. It also says Yorkshire Water is responsible for most sewers in its area, while drains inside your boundary are yours.
Some homes outside the mains sewer area do. A septic tank needs emptying from time to time, while the general binding rules say it must not discharge to a watercourse. Ask the seller for records and the tank location. Ask too when it was last emptied.
Yes, roots can enter small cracks in older pipes, because they seek water. This often causes slow drains that keep coming back. A camera survey shows where roots have entered. The engineer can then explain the options for clearing and repair.
Heavy rain can fill gullies with leaves and silt, so water backs up. Keep gullies and gutters clear before storms. If sewage appears, tell Yorkshire Water, since the fault may be in a public sewer. A camera survey can find cracks that let extra water in.
Only water, human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Put wipes in the bin, even ones sold as flushable. Yorkshire Water says wipes cause nearly 50% of blockages in Yorkshire. Keep fat and grease out of the sink, because it sets hard in cold pipes. A strainer in the sink catches food scraps.