This year, frequent rainfall has been the norm, and many landowners and commercial premises managers might not have had the time to think about the state of their drains and culverts.

Now is the perfect time, while the weather allows, to ensure that drains, ditches, and culverts are clear of blockages and any necessary repairs are made before the next storm hits.

Why is this so important?

After long periods of rainfall, the soil becomes saturated and struggles to absorb additional water. This can cause rain to pool on the surface or flow downhill, increasing the risk of flash flooding. Without a well-maintained drainage system, your property could be at risk.

Flooding is not only disruptive but can be extremely costly to repair. Standing water can damage roads, make areas impassable, and put buildings at risk. It also strains sewage systems, creating health and safety hazards. For public facilities like schools, medical centres, and care homes, these disruptions can have significant impacts on vulnerable users.

The danger of flooding to businesses

Flooding is one of the most destructive natural disasters, causing substantial damage to infrastructure and property. Blocked or damaged culverts that fail to direct water away can result in impassable roads, affecting access for employees and customers. Worse still, standing water around your premises can lead to costly repairs and operational downtime.

Any period of closure means lost income and increased expenses. For businesses that serve the community, like schools or healthcare facilities, this disruption can be far-reaching.

Prepare for rain while the weather is manageable

While the ground is firm, it’s the ideal time to inspect and clear drains, culverts, gullies, and ditches. These areas can become blocked with overgrown vegetation, silt, rubble, or even dumped rubbish, reducing their ability to handle heavy rain.

At Drain and Sewer Services, we’ve been successfully inspecting clients’ drainage systems and advising on any work required for more than 50 years.

We are also experienced and equipped to unblock drains and culverts, both as part of a regular maintenance programme or our 24/7 emergency call-out service.

To clear blockages, our lorry-mounted combination units are versatile, with double tanks and a 120m jetting hose that can blast 70 gallons of water per minute at 2000psi, to dislodge debris out of any pipe or culvert. A 50m suction hose also lets us remove large amounts of standing water at the same time.

At 32-tonnes weight, it’s best to deploy our heavier units while the ground is still firm and dry, but for more difficult-to-reach problem spots, we also have a lightweight and agile trailer-mounted jetting unit which can still deal with most cleaning and unblocking jobs.

With more rain forecast, it’s time to prepare. If you are responsible for a commercial-scale property or estate , or you run a public facility then talk to one of our team at Drain and Sewer Services today on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk for more information and a no-obligation quote.