It’s common after heavy rains for storm water drains to get clogged with debris, causing flooding issues in neighborhoods. As per cleaning experts at Thereliningcompany.com.au, clearing out blocked drains is an important maintenance task for preventing backed-up streets, property damage, and hazardous standing water. This step-by-step guide covers safe methods to remove debris blocking storm drains in your community and guides you on how to clear a blocked stormwater drain.
1. Assess the Situation
Safely approaching a storm drain begins with awareness and caution. Before getting started, thoroughly assess the area for potential hazards posed by moving vehicles, downed power lines, sinkholes, or contaminated water that could be dangerous if touched. Utilize traffic cones or signage to make drivers aware if they are working close to active roadways. Also, check if special permissions or permits are needed for legally accessing storm drains in your area before clearing them.
2. Gather Essential Gear
Having the proper gear for handling various types of drain-clogging debris can make the dirty job easier. Useful items include thick rubber gloves, safety goggles, sturdy boots with traction, a high-visibility vest if working near traffic, garbage grabbers, shovels, rakes, a wheelbarrow or large debris bucket, and potentially a face mask. For severe blockages, a pump could help gradually clear standing water before debris removal. Having disinfecting hand soap and cleaning supplies for gear afterwards is also a good idea.
3. Carefully Inspect Inside & Document Issues
Start clearing efforts by closely inspecting the storm drain to identify what materials are causing the clog. Shine a flashlight down through the drain cover openings and utilize a mirror or camera at the end of an extension rod to view any debris if visibility is very limited or water is pooling significantly. Document what materials appear to be blocking proper drainage with photos to share with local stormwater authorities if necessary. This informs us if follow-up maintenance like frequent drain cleanings or addressing illicit dumping issues may be needed to prevent repeat issues in the area.
4. Develop a Removal Strategy & Loosen Debris
With the blockage source identified, strategize the best approach to carefully extract the materials without causing injury or getting debris further jammed in. Use tools to initially break up, grab, shake loose and make space around tightly packed debris piles. For organic materials like piled leaves or branches, apply controlled pressure with shovels, rakes or grabbers to slowly shift materials in a controlled manner that avoids sudden debris surges.
5. Safely Extract Debris
Once debris is reasonably loosened, commence carefully extracting it piece-by-piece using whichever manual or mechanical tools allow safest access based on positioning and visibility. Use thick protective gloves when reaching hands inside, being watchful for sharps or hazardous objects intermixed in clogs. Place all extracted materials into appropriate containers, separating any recyclables. For heavyweight objects requiring multiple people to lift, use proper team lifting techniques to prevent muscle strains.
6. Inspect & Remove Remaining Debris
Check drain walls, corners and surrounding areas to remove any debris remnants clinging inside that could wash down and re-clog pipes. Use pressurized water if available to help dislodge and flush out lingering organics. Capture all remaining water-suspended materials using filtration devices on downstream drain exits when possible.
7. Document & Report Problems
Before concluding clearing efforts, thoroughly visually inspect if water flows freely through the fully-cleared storm water drain system. Document any underlying infrastructure damage discovered or remaining obstructions needing professional maintenance. Provide this information with date-stamped before and after photos to stormwater management authorities to inform future drain inspection scheduling and assess if repairs may be needed. Reporting issues and cleanup efforts is crucial for improving local drain system functioning and pollution prevention.
ConclusionÂ
Staying on top of storm drain clearing protects community infrastructure, property and safety. With the right preparation and safely executed debris removal steps, neighborhood residents can work together to prevent flooded streets and keep stormwater flowing. Let’s all do our part to maintain properly functioning drains in our shared watersheds.
