Drainage Engineering

The Ipswich drainage team work to reduce local flooding and pollution of watercourses by:

• Operating and maintaining the Ipswich Drainage and Flood Defence Policy, which includes standards for sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS);
• Providing specialist advice on drainage or flooding problems;
• Providing specialist drainage design and analysis services including modelling and SUDS;
• Mapping watercourses and helping to ensure these are not obstructed;
• Promoting SUDS through the development control process in order to reduce impacts of development on the environment;
• Dealing with the Council's land drainage functions.

Anglian Water is responsible for public sewerage and sewage treatment in Ipswich. Most sewers serving at least two properties are now the responsibility of Anglian Water. Most drains under the public highway serving at least one property are also Anglian Water's.

The Environment Agency is responsible for main rivers and tidal flood defences.

From 1st April 2013 Suffolk County Council is responsible for highway drainage, including puddles and blocked highway gullies.

Major flooding problems including gardens, buildings and basements, or problems with ground water or springs should be reported to Ipswich Borough Council's Drainage Engineering team.

Contact information

Denis Cooper, Senior Engineer Drainage
Tel: 01473 432854

Jason Wakefield, Engineer
Tel: 01473 432853

Drainage Related Documents

• Ipswich Drainage and Flood Defence Policy
• Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
• Ipswich Surface Water Management Plan
• Suffolk Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
• Essex & South Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan.