We’ve seen over recent years the bad effects of extended school closures – disruption to education means children falling behind, young people being denied social contact, truancy rates rising and parents having to take time off work.
More than 100 schools had to be closed in 2023 while they were being inspected for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
The Covid lockdown in 2020 saw all schools, colleges and universities shut down for months, with the effects still being felt in their communities.
Schools have also closed in recent years through industrial action, arson attack and the weather. Heavy snow or flooding on premises can force educational establishments to shut, disrupting teaching and the education of students, possibly at a critical time in their careers.
The problem is amplified by the nature of modern educational establishments, many of which consist of multiple campuses containing varied premises and all set in their own grounds. They also have to cope with heavy footfall for some periods and are left empty for others.
For educational establishments responsible for student accommodation, as well as public buildings, health and safety responsibilities mean they must ensure a good standard of maintenance and repair.
Fortunately, premises managers at schools, colleges and universities can take pre-emptive action to reduce the chances of their establishments being disrupted due to seasonal natural events.
Preparing for the worst
Drains and sewers only become important when they fail ad cause an emergency, leading to disruption and closure. The risk of a failure from a blockage could lead to floods on campus.
As we head into the winter period, the weather is likely to be more disruptive, loading strain onto drains, sewers and guttering. Having a professional partner on standby to deal quickly with emergencies can reduce any break in operations.
Even better is to put in place a year-round maintenance programme to avoid problems and disruption in the first place, also keeping a better control on budgets and compliance with legal requirements.
The benefits of a long-term relationship with customers
Over the past 50 years, Drain and Sewer Services has built a reputation for reliability and commitment to delivering the highest standards of professionalism and customer care for our clients.
We believe in the importance of building long-term relationships with our clients, through regular contracts and service programmes. This familiarity helps us to understand their needs better.
We operate our own fleet of specialist vehicles and plant, backed up by an in-house technical support team so that can guarantee our reliability, stringent Health and Safety standards and our teams’ workmanship.
We are confident that they understand and apply the right safety measures to safeguard the wellbeing of students, staff and the general public when they work in a busy space.
This protects us and our clients from potential legal action but it also allows educational establishments to continue operating with the minimum of delay or disruption to classes.
Our range of services support the more complex and high-volume needs placed on educational establishments, including:
- Unblocking drains, culverts, sewers and guttering
- Maintaining, emptying and cleaning septic tanks
- Dealing with, and replacing, burst watermains
- Surveys, testing and routine checks using state-of-the-art, remote-controlled CCTV camera systems
- Groundworks, including hardstanding, roads and walkways (we are NSWRA accredited to work on public roads)
Drain and Sewer Services
From individual business owners or homeowners to academic trusts or universities responsible for multiple sites and large campuses, we offer peace of mind by providing a cost-effective, one-stop service to keep you open and running safely.
If you are responsible for the safe operating of educational estate or premises and need a supportive partner, talk to one of our team at Drain and Sewers today on 01252 312738 or email us at info@drainandsewer.co.uk.