Just arrived home to see that the drain in the yard is blocked and overflowing with black inky water which smells like engine oil I assume some idiot has poured into their drain further up the road How do we clean the drain, unblock it ? Any ideas. House is rented and can't get hold of agents till Monday (left a answer machine message)

unlikely that engine oil would block a drain,get an old fashioned type mop and plunge it, this should clear blockage.

Call the environment agency
If it is engine oil the scorce needs to be found

Tel: 0151 604 3545

oil won't block a drain as you say but i always find it's the oil filter, air filter and plugs that cause the blockage

hanky,hope you are taking the p%%s, no one would put them down the drain.

Some people try to put Mot failures down the drains. Well known fact...

LOL..... ZIPPER

Hope you are able to get this reported to the environment agency as its not known how much has been poured down - quite a lot I presume if its actually blocked -so they can check areas where it might surface . Nasty incident in London at the moment affecting loads of swans .http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-23019640 Horrible stuff for wildlife. What scumbags DO this sort of thing!

Hi Katey,

If the oil has come from someone else's drain then it would mean the public sewer is blocked. Call United Utilities on 0845 7462200 (local rate number) - if you tell them the drain is overflowing and liable to cause imminent flooding then they are obliged to come out to you within 4 hours, night or day. They may report the issue to the environment agency as it is their sewer that has been contaminated.

Good luck getting it sorted.

Jim.

(Your local friendly drainage contractor www.drainswirral.com)