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    Technical Notes 2025, Issue 129 - Bishopbriggs – Localised Flooding on 15 July 2025

    • Report by:

      Ann Davie, Chief Executive

    • TN Number:

      129-25

    • Subject:

      Bishopbriggs – Localised Flooding on 15 July 2025

    • Responsible Officer:

      Thomas McMenamin – Executive Officer Roads & Neighbourhood Services

    • Publication:

      This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.

    Flood Event

    • On 15 July 2025 severe rainfall events occurred across parts of the East Dunbartonshire Council area, which put existing drainage infrastructure under significant pressure. This caused localised flooding, particularly in Bishopbriggs
    • Following on from successive heatwaves and shortly after completion of the works in the nearby park, a burst of intense rainfall overwhelmed the combined sewer system, and two properties were flooded on Springfield Road. There was further garden flooding at several other properties in the area
    • By the time Officers were alerted and attended Springfield Road, the fire service had already pumped water out of the affected two properties. It is understood that residents decanted from these properties
    • On 17 July, our external drainage contractor was able to survey the drainage system and found it to be running clear. Some residents have linked the flooding to the works at the park. Members may be aware that this is a combined sewerage system with Scottish Water at this location and that it also links to the Bishopbriggs Burn, which is culverted in this area. Officers are working with the designers of the drainage system at the park to investigate if there are issues with either the design or the construction of the drainage system
    • Regrettably, there is no guaranteed solution that addresses significant rainfall of the type that occurred on the 15th where the combined system surcharges. Additional gullies do not allow for water to drain quicker when the rainfall is very intense over a short period as the Scottish Water carrier pipes were running at capacity
    • As the event was short but intense, damage to properties can happen before either Scottish Water or East Dunbartonshire Council can mobilise on call officers. The section below lists contact numbers and the response that can be expected from our respective organisations. 

    Responsibility

    Scottish Water

    If you experience flooding contaminated with wastewater from sewers, please call the 24/7 Customer Helpline on 0800 0778 8778. More information can also be found on the Scottish Water website.

    Council

    • Flooding to roads should be reported to our Emergency Response Centre, who pass this information onto the on-call Roads Duty Supervisor.  They will evaluate the requests and take the appropriate action to respond. This may involve closure of the road to stop traffic driving through flood waters, which can cause waves of flood waters entering gardens and properties
    • Whilst the sole responsibility for protection of private property in the event of a flood lies with individual owners and not the Council or any other Agency, the Council will support the local community, as much as possible, in preparing for and dealing with flood waters with the supply of sandbags. The Council will also support and encourage local communities and businesses to prepare their own flood risk action plan to deal with emergencies likely to affect them
    • During flooding events, particularly out of working hours or during severe events, the roads service will be responding to various locations throughout the council area. As we have a limited number of resources available even in locations deemed “at risk”, we cannot provide a guarantee that sandbags will be delivered within a specific timescale and in some cases weather conditions may ease before we have had the opportunity to attend. Residents are encouraged firstly to collect sandbags for their own use from our Broomhill depot
    • Deployment of sandbags will be priorities based on the criteria below and the timescale will depend on the available resources and operational requirements of the response team:
      • To prevent loss of life or serious injury
      • Maintaining access for emergency services
      • Protecting vital facilities within the community, i.e. emergency service facilities; publicly owned elderly residential establishments; etc
      • Protection of East Dunbartonshire Council’s community properties, such as schools and other public buildings, if appropriate
      • Protection of Residential Property within the area
      • Protection of Business/Commercial property within the area
    • Requests for provision of sandbags can be made to the Council. The Emergency Duty Officer or the Emergency Planning Officer will authorise distribution of sandbags in accordance with the priorities above
    • The property owner/occupier is responsible for placing sandbags and providing other preventative measures. Sandbags are regarded as short-term, temporary solution to the problem of flooding. The use of Property Level Protection (PLP) recommended
    • If water enters your house the fire brigade can be called to assist in evacuation. There is further advice on SEPA’s floodline website on how to pack and prepare for a flood.  

    Homeowners

    After the 2018 floods in Bishopbriggs and Bearsden Scottish Flood Forum supported the Council to provide property level protection (PLP) surveys for those individual homeowners that requested this. The Council nor Scottish Water could fund these PLP measures at that time.  It would be up to the homeowners as are the first line of defence for flooding and it is worth considering installing the recommended PLP.  For residents that have not had a survey Scottish Flood Forums can be contacted via the Scottish Flood Forum website to arrange a free consultation to PLP. 

    Surface Water Management Plans

    The Council is developing Surface Water Management Plans for Bearsden, Bishopbriggs and Milngavie under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (FRM). The Council will be working with Scottish Water to understand the mechanisms of flooding in these areas. The project team will propose and assess options to improve the management of surface water to minimise flood risk from surface water and sewer infrastructure.

    Useful Contacts