Flooding isn't always caused by council-owned drains. Many of the incidents investigated involved Severn Trent Water's sewer network, while others related to streams, brooks and culverts that private landowners are responsible for maintaining. Investigations after flooding incidents across the city in winter 2025 found a combination of factors contributed including:
- Extreme rainfall
- Surface water running off steep roads and hillsides
- Sewer capacity constraints
- Highway drainage issues
- Watercourses and culverts
Floods risk across Stoke-on-Trent - The Staffordshire Signal
Investigations found that around 24 reported flooding incidents may have involved sewer capacity constraints.
Work is ongoing with Severn Trent Water to investigate locations where sewer capacity may have contributed to flooding and is pressing for any improvements needed on the company's network.
The council is also progressing longer-term measures to improve resilience, including installing additional flood monitoring equipment, reinstating rainfall gauges, developing a Surface Water Management Plan and seeking funding for larger flood reduction schemes.
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Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:
"Flooding has a real impact on residents and businesses, which is why we're taking action where we can while continuing to press other organisations to do the same.
"We've carried out repairs, increased inspections, strengthened maintenance programmes and are investing in longer-term measures to help reduce flood risk across the city.
"But responsibility for flooding doesn't sit with one organisation. In some locations we need action from utility companies, including Severn Trent Water, while in others there are responsibilities for private landowners and other partners.
"We're continuing to work with those organisations and pushing for improvements where they are needed because residents rightly expect everyone responsible for managing flood risk to play their part.
"The reality is that we will continue to see periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall and no drainage system can completely eliminate the risk of flooding. That's why we're focused on taking practical action now while investing in measures that will help communities become more resilient in the future."
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