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 Selby and these nearby districts and villages:
Selby sits on the River Ouse, on low and flat land. Selby Abbey is the best-known landmark in the town. The flat ground matters for drains, because pipes here have little fall. That makes the town a good case for early checks.
With so little fall, a sag or a blockage matters more. Water moves slowly, and debris settles. Since small faults grow, slow drains in Selby are worth checking early. A camera survey can show a sag before it causes a flood.
Yorkshire Water runs the public sewers in Selby. Blockages inside your boundary are yours to clear. However, if neighbours also have slow drains, the fault may be in a shared pipe or the public sewer. Tell Yorkshire Water when several homes share the problem.
The 2021 Census counted about 19,500 people in Selby. Some homes near the centre may share a drain, while newer estates may have their own. Even so, any pipe can block.
Some homes outside the sewer network use septic tanks. Although each case differs, the general binding rules say a septic tank must not discharge to a watercourse. They also say a system must not sit in a floodplain. Ask the seller for records if you buy such a home.
Keep river and flood warnings in mind if you live near the Ouse or the Selby Dam. Clear gullies and gutters before heavy rain, because leaves block them fast. A non-return valve on the main drain can also help when river levels are high. Ask the engineer whether one suits your home.
Wipes cause trouble here as they do across Yorkshire, since they do not break down. Yorkshire Water says they cause nearly 50% of blockages. Bin them, even if the pack says flushable. Fat and grease from kitchens also collect, so keep them out of the sink.
Many homes have mature garden trees. Roots seek water, because pipes leak a little, so they can enter small cracks in old pipes. A camera check shows whether roots are the cause of repeat blockages. That is worth knowing before you pay for another clearance.
Read how often a septic tank needs emptying to see what the job involves. Before you ask about a tank, read the general binding rules for septic tanks.
Pipes on flat ground have little fall, so water moves slowly. A small sag or a build-up of fat can then hold waste back, because there is no slope to push it on. Regular checks catch these problems early. A camera survey will show any sags in the pipe.
Yorkshire Water runs the public sewers in Selby. A blockage inside your boundary is yours to clear. If your neighbours have the same problem, tell Yorkshire Water, because the fault may be in the public sewer. Never try to clear a sewer yourself.
Some homes outside the sewer network do. A septic tank needs emptying and care, while the general binding rules say it must not discharge to a watercourse. They also say it must not sit in a floodplain. Ask the seller for records if you are buying such a home.
A non-return valve on the main drain can stop sewage flowing back in when river levels are high. It suits homes near the Ouse best. Ask the engineer whether your home needs one, and how to check it each year. A valve does not replace flood warnings, although it can limit the damage.
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.