The Importance Of Storm Drains On Commercial Properties

The storm drain system consists of the grates that are visible on the surface, the barrel that collects the water and the pipes that lead water to main drainage systems.

The purpose of storm drains is to prevent flooding by directing excess water from paved surfaces. A good drainage system must be capable to handling the large amount of water flow that accompanies serious storms.

Storm drains tend to be neglected and even forgotten especially when an area does not experience frequent storms. But this should not be the case as recent history has served to remind us that we need to be prepared as unexpected weather changes can completely incapacitate whole cities and towns.

If you don’t have a storm drain on your commercial property, you may need to get one installed. If you have a storm drain but it’s not working properly, you need to get it repaired.
There are three main reasons why you need to keep storm drains in good working condition:

• For safety purposes, which includes your property’s safety and the safety of all who use it.
• You could be liable for lawsuits if property owned by occupants of your building gets damaged because you have been neglecting your storm drains.
• If you are insuring your property against flooding, your insurance premiums will be higher if the insurer notes that the storm drains on the property are not in good working condition.

Problems with storm drains often arise from problems with clogging or overload of pipes. Clogging happens when:

• Waste and dirt builds up within the pipes.
• The pipes are damaged.
• The ground is saturated.
• When tree roots or dead animals pile over the grates.

As a result of these problems, water will not drain properly from the surface and will instead accumulate within your property. If your property is on a slope, the soil could begin to erode and create problems for your buildings.

How storm drain repair and maintenance can help

Professional storm drain repair companies assess the state of your storm drains and repair them to keep your property safe in the event of a storm. Debris that has collected on the grates can be cleared by cleaning. If ice has collected over the drain and is blocking it, the ice can be thawed with professional-grade equipment to clear the grate.

The correct gauge of piping can also be installed if small piping is causing backflow. A small storm drain is just as bad as a storm drain with clogged pipes. This is because when rains are heavy, small pipes cannot drain it efficiently and this leads to backups and flooding.

There are however times when even correct gauge of piping can be overwhelmed by increased water volumes. In such situations, some drain systems can be fitted with inlet control devices, to control inflow of water and prevent the pipes from being overwhelmed to bursting point.