Blogging About Builders

Having your storm drain cleaned out may not be at the top of your priority list, but it can be an important task in some cases. Here are a few of the top reasons why you'd want to have your storm drains cleaned out.

1. Eliminate bad smells

Sometimes, the storm drain can collect trash, pet waste, grease, motor oils, or even dead rodents. These and other items can all make the drain stink in a very unpleasant way. Even if the drain is still operational and not totally clogged, these smells could cause problems for your home or business. A good cleaning can get rid of these contaminants that would otherwise continue to make unpleasant smells in the area.

2. Reduce chances of flooding

Just like any other drain, a storm drain that's clogged up with detritus won't be able to let water flow through quickly. In a storm scenario where the drain will be required to handle lots of runoff all at once (as it's designed to), this can become quite a problem. The drain could back up, and you could experience a flooded lawn, parking lot, or driveway.

Storm drains typically have a grate to keep large debris from falling in, but small debris can still enter and cause clogs. Having the drain cleaned out can eliminate this problem and reduce the chances of backups and flooding.

3. Reduce waterway pollution

Since storm drains don't go to the sewers (where water is diverted to a treatment plant), the water in storm drains doesn't get cleaned before being released into the environment. Storm drain systems often simply dump water into a river or lake without even basic filtration. The bad news is that stormwater isn't just water; it typically contains chemicals, waste, and other things it's picked up along the way.

If the storm drain is filled with potentially polluting materials (such as leaf litter that contains pet waste or lawn clippings that carry pesticides and fertilizers), the stormwater that enters these waterways could potentially become even more polluted. So keeping storm drains free and clear is one potential way to help reduce the environmental impact of stormwater.

These are just a few of the reasons why you should take the trouble to keep your storm drains running freely. If you suspect your storm drain needs a cleanout or just want to have it checked because it's been a while since it's been cleaned, contact a storm drain cleaning contractor today for an estimate or to schedule a drain cleaning visit.