Road Drainage - Public Awareness

Cork County Council wishes to remind landowners and operators of machinery of their duties under the Roads Act 1993 to take all reasonable steps to ensure that water can drain off a public road onto land and that water, soil, mud or other material is not allowed to run off their lands or be deposited on a public road, especially at farm and field entrances.  

Excess surface water runoff and mud has potential to jeopardise the safety of road users and undermine and cause serious damage to the public road.  In addition, uncontrolled runoff from private lands onto public roads can result in flooding to private property.

In the event of accidents occurring to road users, owners and occupiers of land and operators of machinery may be held liable, if they have failed to meet their legal obligations.

Notices may be served on those who do not comply, which if not acted upon, can lead to prosecutions and fines if pursued through the Courts. 

Further advice is available from your local Area Engineer’s Office.