A resident of Tynwald Close in St John’s has raised concerns about persistent flooding and drainage problems on the housing estate, saying the issues have continued for several years despite repeated contact with government departments and local representatives.

The resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said water regularly collects along the road, emerges through the road surface and flows over the kerbs towards residents’ gardens.

‘What's particularly concerning is that this doesn't only happen during heavy rainfall,’ the resident said. ‘We've experienced it during prolonged dry periods, including the summer.’

The resident also raised concerns about the appearance and smell of the water, saying: ‘At times, the water has been grey, foul-smelling and accompanied by oily-looking bubbles.

The drainage has affected the estate even during dry weather
The drainage has affected the estate even during dry weather (N/A)

‘During the summer, the smell was similar to raw sewage.’

In correspondence from January 2025, an employee in the Department of Infrastructure’s Highways Maintenance Group explained to the resident that the road gullies discharged into soakaways rather than a dedicated highway drainage system connected to the public sewer.

The resident said the correspondence acknowledged that the soakaways were no longer functioning properly and they raised concerns about possible household greywater entering the surface-water drainage system.

Further correspondence with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) indicated that Manx Utilities had identified multiple instances of household greywater being incorrectly connected to surface-water drainage.

The resident said they had contacted the DoI, DEFA, the local commissioners and their MHKs, as well as providing photographic evidence documenting the flooding over time.

‘One particularly frustrating aspect is repeatedly being asked to provide further photographs when the evidence already submitted clearly demonstrates the longstanding nature of the problem,’ they said.

‘My concern isn't simply that the road floods. It's that the authorities have acknowledged problems with the existing drainage infrastructure; there have been concerns about household wastewater entering the surface-water system; residents are experiencing foul-smelling water emerging onto their residential road; responsibility for funding and carrying out a permanent solution remains unclear; and despite years of correspondence, residents still don't have a clear explanation of when this will be resolved.

‘I'm not expecting an overnight solution, but I do think residents deserve proper answers.’

The DoI are now investigating the problem
The DoI are now investigating the problem (N/A)

The DoI has confirmed it is aware of the problem on Tynwald Close and has previously investigated the area following concerns raised.

A DoI spokesperson said: ‘Investigations to date have not established that the underlying issue originates from the highway drainage system. While road gullies are present within the estate, the drainage arrangements and connections serving the area require further investigation.

‘Given the concerns raised, including reports of potentially contaminated water, the Department is carrying out further enquiries with housing colleagues, DEFA’s Environmental Protection team and Manx Utilities to establish the source of the water and better understand the drainage connections in the area.

‘Until those investigations are complete, it is not possible to determine the cause of the problem or responsibility for any remedial works.

‘The Department will continue to work with the relevant agencies to establish the cause and identify what action may be required.’