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Storm drain is a structured design to remove excess rainwater or groundwater from artificial structures like roads, ports, driveways, sidewalks, and other paved areas constructed with water-resistant materials.
These drains are designed to move unnecessary or overflowing water from surfaces and pass it to the underground well, rivers, or seas. The water passes through the passage or pipe to the storm drainage system. It is an ancient and cost-effective way to direct the flow of water.
However, a storm drain can only do this when it is functioning correctly. A blocked storm drain can cause more problems and overflooding, erosion, and other consequences. This is why careful cleaning and maintenance of the unit are important. Click here to meet qualified plumbers for proper storm drain maintenance.
Storm Drain Maintenance Tips:
The storm drainage system can be maintained and free frequent cleaning by cleaning the dirt, including fallen leaves, plastics, tree branches, disposable packs, and so on, so that it will not get into the storm drain.
With the following steps below, you can maintain your storm cleaner well.
- Take time to inspect and clean the storm drain. This includes removing all dirt like leaves, disposable packs, and plastics from the surroundings and on top of the drain grate.
- Always engage a highly professional plumber for proper and periodic cleaning.
- Do not clean or open the storm drain alone.
- Prevent clogging of the drain by evacuating all trash and dirt and getting rid of vegetation near the drain.
- Dump all household trash and dirt in waste bins.
- Eliminate all dirt and trash on your property that can lead to blockage in the storm drain.
- Pick up all waste that can be carried by water into the storm drain.
Storm drain cleaning tips
Cleaning of the drain is important because the water in the drainage system is directed into fresh water like lakes, rivers, etc. Ideally, Storm drains are meant to be cleaned at least once or twice a year, if not more than. The frequency of cleaning should be increased in some areas where careless dumping of waste water takes place.
To make the storm drain work effectively, it is advisable to do the cleaning twice a year. You opt for cleaning it once in the dry and rainy season to ensure the system is not left uncleaned at a particular time of the year.
Below are some cleaning tips you may find useful when looking into cleaning out the storm drain in your area and maintaining it for future use.
Step 1: Always put on your rubber glove before you proceed with cleaning.
Cleaning a storm drain is not simple work that should be done with your bare hand. Before proceeding with it, prepare for a lot of work and get yourself ready by putting on your rubber glove. This will protect your hand from dirt and bacteria lurking around the unit.
Step 2: Open the drain cover
Once you are set to clean the drain, get to work by removing the head of the storm drain. You can do this with a flat-bladed screwdriver. It’s important to use the right screwdriver type to ensure that you don’t cause damage to the screw heads, which can make it more difficult to remove properly in the future. Once removed, the storm drain is exposed and ready to be cleaned.
Step 3: Bring out the dirt one after another
A storm drain is not like a regular plumbing system so expect this to be a lot of work. There will be more than enough dirt to pack out of the drain, given that the system is exposed to almost all waste in your community. Bring out the dirt and dispose of it so that it does not get back in the drain.
Step 4: Scrub the drain
Again do not forget your glove. Once you remove the dirt, it is time to scrub the drain and make it clean again. Understand that the drain does not need to be super clean or as good as new. Put some effort into cleaning the unit, but do not waste too much time and energy on scrubbing.
Step 5: Rinse with enough water
Complete the drain cleaning by flushing away the dirt. After scrubbing, expect the unit to get so dirty and ready to flush out slippery, dirty slime and other blockages that may cause an issue with residual remnants and hygiene. Do this with enough water and watch the sewer system take care of the remaining job.
By following these steps, you can ensure that the storm drain is properly maintained and will be ready to use for the foreseeable future.
Why do you need to clean and maintain the storm drain
Cleaning the storm drain periodically can reduce the probability of a blocked storm drain. Also, storm drain cleaning reduces risks like flood, structural or building property damage, and bad road erosion. However, leaving the drain unclean can result in many damages to land and property in the community, causing problems for everyone around.
Storm drain cleaning also helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, which can be a huge help towards preserving the overall hygiene of the areas surrounding it. This is especially important not only for the benefit of children and elderly individuals, but also the entire neighbourhood.
Conclusion
A storm drain is an essential part of a community. It is responsible for ensuring safety and preventing erosion and overflooding. Hence, it must be meticulously maintained. Taking proper care of this unit is important for a healthy and safe environment since floods from rain can lead to devastating effects that no one will want to experience.
However, storm drain cleaning is not a thing that should be done by a single person. Generally speaking, it requires the help of several individuals, and in some cases, professionals that understand the layout and techniques to clean collective efforts can be made to achieve better results and enhance the unit’s effectiveness.
