Why is stormwater maintenance necessary?

A stormwater drain that is blocked will quickly become more of an issue than a blocked sewer drain. An overflowing sewer drain can be stopped promptly by not using the affected plumbing fixtures, resulting in a stop to overflowing pipes. A stormwater drain that has become blocked connects to the gutters and downpipes of a building and will continue to flood while rain is falling; this is why stormwater maintenance is necessary. The drains that service the inside plumbing fixtures are not the only components of a home's plumbing. There is also a drainage system for taking away stormwater. When you look at your homes downpipes, they connect to a stormwater drain. Another place you can find a stormwater drain is in your driveway. In a driveway, any stormwater that lands on your driveway flow into a pit. Driveway pits connect to the stormwater drain which either runs to the kerb or a council main. In many homes and surrounding areas, stormwater catches on surfaces that aren't able to absorb it: Resulting in water runoff from rooftops, roads, paths, gutters, and other hard surfaces. During this process, the stormwater will pick up pollutants, silt and debris, which can impact our local environment.

     Reducing the impact of stormwater runoff can be easily controlled with a sound drainage system in place. The benefits of this can be many and varied:

1. Reduced flood risk; a sound stormwater system catches and directs water away from areas in the natural environment that are prone to flooding. And pooling, helping to reduce water damage.
2. Preventing erosion; rapidly gushing water, can cause damage and erosion. In areas where rivers flood erosion can cause damage to the natural environment. 
3. Maintaining high water quality; managing stormwater runoff reduces excessive amounts of pollutants such as chemicals, pesticides, oil, grease and debris entering local waterways.
4. Protecting property and infrastructure; when old stormwater drains overload with large amounts of rainwater, leaks and failures occur. Roads and surfaces subject to leaking stormwater drains wear away, and sinkholes start to appear.

Maintaining your stormwater system:

The most effective way used to maintain a stormwater system and a method used by most plumbers is to use high-pressure drain cleaning equipment. Water jets at approximately 5000psi discharges up to 32 litres per minute. With pressures, this high, blockages are removed, and the inside of the drain will be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned. An inspection of the pipe with CCTV equipment should follow to report on any underlying issues. 

Investing time on maintaining how well your building can handle stormwater runoff will pay off in the long run. Planning is cost-effective, saving you both time and money in expensive repairs.

Work with a licensed plumber:

Consulting with a plumber who specialises in drain cleaning and drainage maintenance will make sure your drainage is working in the best way possible. With regular drain cleaning and camera inspections of your drains, problems become rectified before they turn into a significant flooding catastrophe.

If you would like to learn more about stormwater maintenance, contact King Plumbing on 0413-586-724, and we will be happy to help you out!