Are your drains prepared for a summer downpour?

There’s no denying the unpredictable nature of the British weather: we may be heading into summer, but we still need to be ready for the kind of heavy downpour that quickly leads to a build-up of surface water and potential flooding.

What is a surface water drain?

Surface water can come from sources such as rain or melted snow and a surface water drain, also known as a storm drain, enables excess ground water to escape quickly.

They are an important flood defence on hard surfaces where water can’t easily soak into the ground, such as roads, carparks and pavements. In the summer, this can also include gardens and parks where the ground becomes baked hard, so that water sits on the surface.

Why do surface water drains need to be maintained?

Without a surface water drain, standing water has nowhere to escape. We’ve all seen flooded areas of roads after a heavy downpour and it’s likely that under the water is a surface drain blocked by plant debris or rubbish. Serious flooding causes damage, expense, delays and misery, so preventing it is important.

Who is responsible for surface water drains?

Within the boundaries of a property, the owner is responsible for making sure that guttering, drains, gullies, culverts and soakaways, etc. are kept clean to allow surface water to run off efficiently. Drains outside your boundaries are the responsibility of the water companies.

How can you look after your surface water drains?

Surface drains need to be kept clear of debris, including kitchen waste and inappropriately dumped rubbish that builds up in a drain to cause a blockage.

If your drain is clear of debris but water is still building up around it, your drains could be blocked inside or damaged, which is where our expert team and Drain and Sewer Services can help, with our drain cleaning, drain unblocking and  drain repair services.

Do you need help with blocked drains or sewers?

If you need to talk about maintaining your surface water drainage systems, then call our team at Drain and Sewers on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk.