A LETTER to your newspaper (Independent, November 21) highlighted a problem related to the roles and responsibilities of various organisations for the cleansing and maintenance of drains and sewers.

Following the privatisation of the water industry some years ago the council relinquished most of its responsibilities for drainage and sewage and no longer carries out a drain clearance service, other than on its own properties. Thames Water Utilities Ltd is responsible for the maintenance, construction, cleansing and management of the public sewer systems whether it be rain-water or 'foul' water effluent from baths, sinks and toilets. These sewers are normally found beneath the roads of the borough.

Thames Water Utilities Ltd provides both a sewer and a drain clearance service using its own contractor. Contact should he made with its customer services department on 08459 200 800.

The department will ask all relevant questions to establish whether the problem is with a drain, a private sewer or a public sewer and whether any charges will be made. If advised that a charge will he made, the caller is free to seek alternative arrangements.

Following a change to the Thames Water Customer Services telephone number, the telephone number quoted in the A-Z of Environmental Services under Drains and Sewers has been changed to that above.

GARY BARNES,

Assistant Director of

Contract Services,

Enfield Council.