Work out who can deal with the report
When flooding appears, the organisation to contact depends on where the water is and what may be causing it. A blocked drain on a local road, flooding from a sewer and water coming from a river can go to different organisations. Start with the official flood-reporting service for your nation or council. It can direct you even if you cannot tell what caused the problem.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. For other reports, use the published route for the type of problem. Stay somewhere safe while making the report. A clear location from dry ground is more useful than an exact photograph taken by approaching a hazard. If the source is unclear, say what you saw and let the organisation decide how to investigate.
Give a location someone else can find
Write down the street and nearest clear landmark or junction. Include the town or village and a full postcode if you know it. If the water is outside a property, say whether you mean the building, its access road or a nearby feature. Where two roads have similar names, add the direction of travel or which side of the junction is affected.
Describe when you saw the problem and whether you are reporting current conditions or an earlier observation. State the practical effect if you can see it safely: for example, whether the pavement is blocked or a building entrance is affected. A council may ask for a map pin or photo. Supply only what you already have or can gather safely, and avoid including unnecessary details about other people.
Report a road problem to the road authority
For water or blocked drainage on an ordinary local road, check the council's highways reporting page. Motorways and some major routes have a separate operator. GOV.UK's flood reporting page can point you to the relevant service in England. For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, use the relevant national or local guidance linked from the government service.
If the same problem keeps happening, keep the reference numbers and dates. A new report can explain which side of a junction was affected each time without expecting the recipient to piece together old messages. Where the road is closed, follow the instructions given on site or by the responsible authority. A report number confirms that you logged a problem, while a closure update tells you whether you can use the route.
Use the water company for suspected sewer flooding
If you suspect water is coming from a public sewer, look up the sewerage provider for the address and use its official reporting instructions. In rented or shared accommodation, tell the landlord or building manager about effects inside the building as well. Describe where water appeared, whether it is still present and which access points are affected. Do not attempt to lift covers or investigate a drain yourself.
People can see water on the road and in a property during the same event. Tell each organisation about the part it can act on and give any existing reference if relevant. For example, the building manager needs to know that a shared entrance is unusable, while the council needs to know the location and condition of the adjacent road. Keep the messages factual and distinguish observations from suspected causes.
Check how to report a river or coastal concern
Use official national reporting guidance if you think the source is a river, the sea or a flood defence. Local council pages often help distinguish smaller watercourses, drainage and larger rivers. You can start with the official service even if you do not know the watercourse classification. Give the best location and explain what you saw without guessing which organisation owns the asset.
Sign-up services for warnings and reporting services serve different purposes. Subscribing may help you learn about future warnings for an area. To tell an authority about something happening now, submit a report through its published channel. If you already receive an official warning, read its instructions for the area and check whether it provides a specific contact for that event.
Keep the information useful after the event
Retain the report reference, date, location and any reply. If the effect changes significantly, use the official route for an update and refer to the original report where possible. For damage to a home, check the government's after-flood guidance and contact the relevant insurer or housing provider about next steps. Check official instructions before returning to affected places or using affected services.
A useful household note can fit on one sheet: your council's flood page, the sewerage provider, the official warning service and the routes you depend on. Add the contact for a landlord or building manager if you have one. Review it after moving or changing providers. Having the right channel ready means you can spend less time deciding where to report a problem when conditions are difficult.