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 Tadcaster and these nearby districts and villages:
Tadcaster stands on the River Wharfe, south-west of York. The town is known for brewing, and the breweries are local landmarks. Since the town sits on a river, the Wharfe is the main thing to know about drains here. River levels matter most to homes near the banks.
Floods in December 2015 caused part of Tadcaster bridge to collapse. Since then, many people in the town have kept a close eye on river levels. When the Wharfe is high, drains near the banks can drain slowly. A blocked gully makes the problem worse.
Water pipes in Tadcaster come from Yorkshire Water, which has been replacing mains in the town. If you think a public sewer is at fault, check which company looks after sewers in your street. Your water bill is a good place to start. Drains inside your boundary stay your own job.
Tadcaster has older homes and newer family homes. Older properties can have pipes that owners extended over time. A camera survey helps to map them, because old plans may be missing. It also shows cracks and roots that you cannot see.
Some older homes share a drain at the back. If one home blocks, the others may slow down too. For example, a shared run can fill with fat from several kitchens. Talk to your neighbours before you pay for work on a shared pipe.
A non-return valve on the main drain can stop sewage flowing back in. This matters most for homes close to the river, since that is where water rises first. Ask the engineer whether a valve would suit your property. Ask what it costs, and how often it needs a check.
Sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings if your home is near the Wharfe. Keep gullies and gutters clear before heavy rain, while water still has a clear path away from the house. Check the cover of your main drain too. Know where it sits before you need it.
Pubs, cafes and other food premises send a lot of fat down the pipes. Fat builds up in drains and sewers, because it sets hard in cold pipes. Food businesses can fit grease traps and plan regular cleaning. Ask the engineer how often your pipes need a clean.
Read what a drain camera survey finds if repeat blocks make you suspect damage. If a cover or gully outside is full, read blocked manholes and outside drains.
When the Wharfe runs high, drains near the river can empty slowly or back up. Homes by the banks feel this first, while homes further away may notice less. A non-return valve on the main drain can help, so ask the engineer about one. Environment Agency flood warnings give you time to act.
Start by working out where the fault sits, because the owner differs. A blockage inside your boundary is yours to fix. A blocked public sewer is the sewerage company's job, so check which company that is, for example on your water bill. If your neighbours have the same problem, the sewer is the likely cause.
Yes, it is worth asking about, since older properties can have pipes that owners added to over many years. A camera survey shows the route and the condition of each run. That helps you plan repairs before they turn into emergencies.
Yes, with care. Food premises can fit grease traps and plan regular cleaning, since fat builds up fast. Ask a drainage firm what suits your kitchen and how often to clear it. Staff should wipe pans before washing, because fat sets hard in cold pipes.
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.