Blocked sewer: How can you tell if it's a public or private problem?

A blocked sewer can quickly become a hellish situation: bad smells, flooding, unusable sanitary facilities, etc. But before taking any action, you need to know who is responsible You (private property) or the local council (public network)?

Visit the right reflexes to find out quickly.

Signs of a blocked sewer

Look for these typical symptoms:

  • Water backs up into the WC, shower or sinks
  • Sewage odours in the house or garden
  • The pipes are gurgling
  • Water drains slowly or stagnates

 

If you notice one or more of these signs, the network is probably blocked.

Talk to your neighbours

Before calling in a professional, ask around.

  • Are your neighbours having the same problems? → The problem is probably of the public network.
  • Are you the only one concerned? → This indicates a private concernon your own pipe.

Check the manholes

Lift the manhole covers (in your garden or on the pavement) to inspect.

  • If the first look at you is full ofthe cap is on your private network.
  • If the gaze is emptyBut there's more to it than that: it could be public.

👉 Warning: some manholes placed on the public highway may still be privateespecially in front of detached houses.

Blocked private sewer manhole and blocked public sewer manhole: call your local council
Blocked private sewer manhole and blocked public sewer manhole: call your local council

The small window in front of your home is usually private.

How to tell the difference between a public sewer manhole and a private sewer manhole
example of a private manhole on the public highway

Blocked private sewer? Call a pro

If this is your network, contact us on 04 67 24 14 13

Our teams intervene 24/7using professional equipment: camera, hydro-scraper, electric ferret, etc.

Débouchage D'égout Valras Plage
Débouchage D'égout Valras Plage

Blocked public sewer? Call the Town Hall

If you have confirmed that it is a public problem, contact the municipal services of your town or city. Report the problem, giving precise details of the location and symptoms observed. Municipal services are responsible for maintaining public sewers and will dispatch a team to resolve the problem.

Useful numbers :

  • Suez Environnement (24-hour emergency) : 0 977 401 139
  • Collective sanitation of Sète Agglopôle 04 67 46 24 70 (Monday to Friday)

Frequently Asked Questions

Lift up your nearest manhole. If it's full of water, the stopper is beforeso your home. If it is empty, it is furtherso maybe public.

Not necessarily. Even if it's placed on a public thoroughfare, the eye can belong to your home if the pipe is dedicated to you.

Yes, but the sewage system requires adapted equipment (camera, high pressure, etc.) and know-how to prevent damage or aggravate the blockage. Here's an article explaining how to unblock a drain itself.

  • If it's your home → you pay.
  • If it's public → it is paid for by the municipality or the delegated company (Suez, Véolia, etc.).
hydrocleaning from the outside

Contents

A solution for all your pipe problems

WC
blocked

Overflowing sewer

Blocked pipe

Kitchen & bathroom

Video inspection

Breakage-free repair

Relax... we'll take it from here.

3 all-inclusive packages!

Unclogging
Express

180€ VAT INCLUDED
  •  

Unclogging
High Pressure

+ Camera passage
250€ VAT INCLUDED
  •  
guarantee

Cleaning
Reinforced

110€ VAT INCLUDED
  •