10 Important Things to Know About Storm Drain Cleaning

If you’ve ever walked around in a big city, you’ve probably noticed the metal grates set into the ground on or near the curb. These are called storm drains. Also known as clean water catch basins, storm drains perform the vital function of collecting excess rainwater during storms (hence, the name).

They exist to prevent flooding, and the grate serves as a coarse filter to block any large trash or debris from entering the waterway. But in the same way people clean and maintain their septic tanks, storm drains need to be cleaned as well.

Here are 10 crucial things to know regarding storm drain cleaning:

• Sewer systems have been around for thousands of years: Storm drains are part of the larger sewer system. The first known sewer system was implemented by the ancient Romans in 600 B.C. for sanitary reasons and to prevent disease.
• Storm sewers are important: Storm sewers, often referred to as surface sewers, are responsible for the sanitary disposal of wastewater for immense amounts of people. The sewer system in Los Angeles, for example, services 4 million people.
• Clogged storm drains can adversely affect driving conditions: Failing to perform adequate storm drain cleaning can lead to clogs and overflowing water that can’t enter the sewer system. This can increase erosion unnecessarily and lead to hazardous driving conditions.
• What goes into storm drains matters: Since storm drains lead to freshwater sources like lakes, ponds and rivers, if you’re going to clean them, you shouldn’t do so with harsh chemicals.
• Flushing is a viable cleaning method: On pipes with a diameter of 36 inches or smaller, if you have a water source, you can flush out the water as an effective way to clean them.
• You should consider hydro jetting: The use of highly-pressurized water to clean storm drains (known as hydro jetting) is gaining popularity due to how well it works and how environmentally safe it is.
• Don’t hesitate to contact the experts: Depending on the size and scope of your storm drain problem, it might behoove you to call on professionals. They have the necessary tools and experience to survey the situation and remedy the problem of unclean storm drains.
• Storm drains should be cleaned yearly—at least: Your mileage may vary depending on environmental factors like the amount of rain, dirt and litter in your area, but having your storm drains cleaned once a year is a good place to start.
• When removing debris, limit your use of water: If you’re using a vacuum or other suction instrument to remove debris, try not to use excessive amounts of water, as that could overflow the debris-catch compartment faster.
• You can do your part: To help maintain storm drains and their cleanliness, try to keep leaves, trash and other debris clear from the openings as much as possible. You can pick up loose material nearby that could clog the storm drains and ensure your trees are trimmed to prevent dead branches from entering the storm drain.

Call for storm drain cleaning today

Now that you know some of the basics of storm drain cleaning and why it’s important, give us a call at Macken Services, Inc.. We have over 50 years of experience in everything from sand filter installation to storm drain cleaning to maintaining septic tanks, and we’d be happy to demonstrate our expertise by performing commercial and residential work that we’re proud to stand behind.

Categorised in: Storm Drain Cleaning

This post was written by Writer