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Stormwater is rainwater that mixes with soil fertiliser, organic matter, and other debris and is usually generated by rain run-off from roofs, roads, and other structures. As the stormwater flows down impervious structures like rooftops or streets, it gathers debris and pollutants that make their way through your drains.
A stormwater drainage system is specifically designed to carry the stormwater away from your property. It's not made to carry hazardous wastes or sewage. The run-off is usually carried in open ditches or underground pipes and discharges the untreated water into rivers, local streams, or surface water bodies. Let's look into more on what a stormwater drain is.
Stormwater Drains Vs. Sewer Drains
Most people in Australia think that sewer and stormwater drainages are one and the same; however, this is not true. It's good to understand the difference between sewer and stormwater drainage systems to know the best practices to apply to avoid plumbing issues on your property. With this knowledge, you can handle each of the two systems accordingly.
Sewer drainage
The sewer drainage on your property is the system with underground pipes that carry sewerage and waste from your sinks, kitchen, bathrooms, or other plumbing fixtures in your home or commercial property.
This system drains all the sewerage and waste from your property to the correct waste treatment plants. From here, the wastewater is treated and released into water sources such as oceans and rivers.
Stormwater drain
A stormwater drain is a system that carries any water running off a given site due to rainfall. This includes the rainwater that runs off your pathways, roofs, roads, and driveways. The stormwater goes directly to your waterways without getting filtered in the process.
Importance Of Stormwater Drains
You could experience severe problems in your commercial or residential property if you don't have a functional stormwater drainage system. Therefore, you need a stormwater drain to allow stormwater to flow out effectively, thus preventing the accumulation of stormwater containing bacteria, pesticides, sediment, trace metals, and other harmful substances.
A stormwater drain also helps protect your property from water damage. Here are some other benefits of having a stormwater drain in your commercial or residential property in Australia.
Minimal flooding
A well-maintained stormwater drain ensures you don't experience flooding on your property. Regular cleaning of debris and sediments ensures that water can flow effectively, thus, preventing the accumulation of still water that could cause flooding and severe water damage.
Help prevent stormwater damage to your property
Clogged storm drains can damage your property as stormwater will not be diverted away from your footpaths, basement, underground pipes, roads, buildings, and cables. Proper maintenance of these drains helps prevent obstructions and blocked drains that could cause property damage.
Reduce water contaminants
Blocked downpipes and adjacent drain damage fall under the property owner's responsibility. Proper stormwater drainage maintenance is essential to avoid the contamination of local waterways. Failure to maintain drainage facilities across your property could get a property owner in trouble with the local council.
Reduce soil erosion
Soil becomes muddy and erodes when the stormwater drain is not working effectively. Soil erosion has adverse effects on plants as it affects their growth and hinders the development of their root systems. You can also expect your concrete area or landscape to be impacted by more mud.
Improve your property appearance
With a well-maintained storm drain, you can expect your property to divert stormwater effectively. This allows your landscape to look more attractive and boosts your property value. If you want to sell your property, you can expect it to fetch a high price because of its curb appeal and good drainage maintenance.
Protect your water quality
Proper stormwater drain maintenance helps ensure that your water quality is maintained. Contaminants such as oil, pesticides, plastic, and metals can be carried to water sources if the stormwater drains are not well maintained. Maintaining the drains ensures these contaminants are removed before entering the water sources.
How To Maintain A Stormwater Drain
Your stormwater drain system could be a series of catch basins or drains. Since your stormwater drain system is not connected to the water treatment plant, proper maintenance is required because the untreated water freely moves to nearby water sources. Any substances in your stormwater drain will end up in local water sources. Here are tips to help you maintain a clean stormwater drain.
Regularly inspect the storm drain grate
You should make sure that you clear off the area on and near the storm drain grate. Do this by removing leaves, sticks, and anything else you find on the grate or close to it. Then, dispose of these materials to ensure they don't find their way back to the grate. You could also install a filter on the drain grate to keep it clear.
During winter, you should check the grate regularly to ensure there is no ice and snow on it. Doing this ensures that the area doesn't get cluttered, reducing the risks of your storm drain getting blocked.
Don't open and unclog the stormwater drain by yourself
Several forms of pollutants can get into your stormwater drain, including motor oil, dead animals, toxic chemicals, and other dangerous materials. Therefore, it's advisable to leave the job to an expert because of the safety risks involved in the process because of the harmful chemicals present.
Maintain your landscape or garden
If your yard doesn't readily absorb stormwater, you could fill it with pebbles and sand to improve on that. You could also grow vegetation and mulch in your yard. Vegetation helps absorb the stormwater, thus reducing the risk of flooding in your commercial or residential property.
This also ensures that no soil is washed into your drain by stormwater. Planting vegetation in your yard is also a great way to increase your property's curb appeal.
Signs Of A Clogged Stormwater Drain
Below are signs that show that your stormwater drain is clogged. If you note any of the signs listed below, you should find a prompt solution because delaying repairs could lead to more severe and costly drainage issues.
Standing water around or inside the stormwater drain
If you find standing water around your stormwater drain after a heavy downpour, signs are high that it is clogged. This might indicate that your filter is not working and needs replacement or you need to clean the stormwater drain.
Water seeping into your property's foundation
Water seeping into your house's walls or foundation indicates a problem with your roof gutters. It shows that the water has either leaked or overflowed and is not moving to the stormwater drain. It might just mean your stormwater drain is blocked, so you could simply flush it using a garden hose.
Slow drainage
If you notice that the stormwater drain is draining stormwater slowly, it could mean that the drain is clogged or has other damage to it. If your drain keeps blocking after cleaning it, you should consider installing a grate filter. The filters help separate any substances that could clog up your stormwater drains.
Presence of a foul smell
The foul smell emanating from your stormwater drain is another sign of an obstruction limiting the stormwater flow. When stagnant water and waste sit on your drain for a long time, it could result in a stinky smell.
The foul smell also indicates that your stormwater drain might have been clogged for a long time. Immediate attention is required to avoid the damage that might occur because of the blockage.
Do You Need Expert Stormwater Drain Services?
As you can see, a stormwater drain plays a vital role in your commercial or residential property. As a result, it's advisable to maintain it well to ensure it operates effectively. A functional stormwater drain plays a considerable role in ensuring that no water damage can occur on your property.
If you want to install a stormwater drain or have your current one fixed, working with a qualified plumber is advisable for all the necessary stormwater drain services. A good plumber can help inspect, maintain and ensure that your stormwater drain is working perfectly.
Additionally, they have the essential qualifications and state-of-the-art tools to offer you the right solution to your stormwater drain issues.
