Storm water is water that emerges from rain, including snow and ice melt. Storm water is also surface water in unusual quantity resulting from rainfall or snow.
Storm water runoff is a major problem faced by a lot of people all over the world. In areas that are yet to be developed, such as areas that have a lot of grasses, in most cases, the rain is soaked by grasses. There is an issue of storm-water runoff in areas with mainly artificial structures such as pavements that are covered by water-resistant materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, stone, and rooftops.
If your drain is blocked, you will be noticing water pooling around your backyard frequently. If it does not rain for some time and you know your drain is blocked, you should find a solution to it before the rain starts. If the rain starts and your drain is blocked, it might cause a serious disaster.
The negative impacts of storm water runoff on our household and environment cannot be overestimated. It has rendered a lot of people homeless and has put an end to a lot of businesses. One of the negative impacts of storm water runoff is flooding, which causes a lot of damages to public and private property. Another impact caused by storm water runoff is widened stream channels, which can also lead to loss of valuable properties. Storm water runoff is a threat to our public health and public safety because it contaminates our drinking water and causes drowning when a flood occurs. Lastly, storm water runoff causes increased cost of water and wastewater treatment.
This is why it is important to prevent our drains from getting blocked. When we fail to prevent our drains from getting blocked or as soon as we notice that it is blocked, the right thing to do is to look for ways to unblock it as soon as possible because negligence can cause havoc not only to our home but to the environment as a whole.
Prevention is better than cure
Whether you have a blocked drain in Melbourne, Sydney or anywhere, we will explain how you can unblock your drain easily when it is blocked. But before we start the explanation, it is important to communicate to our readers the steps they can take to prevent their drains from getting blocked.
Do not dump down storm drains
A lot of people make the mistake of believing that storm drains are part of the sanitary sewer system that flows to wastewater treatment plants. But this is not the case because storm drains link directly to local streams, rivers, and lakes.
The right thing to do when you want to dispose of your waste is to contact the state waste management. They are usually available to help you dispose of your waste. By doing this, you are securing your household, your environment, and the state you reside in general.
Wash your cars at a standardised car wash that is plumbed to a treatment plan rather than washing your car on the street.
Washing one car may not seem to be a problem, but collectively car washing adds up to bigger problem.
When you wash your car on the street, the dirt and soap can wash into storm drains directly to creeks and streams. Detergents that flows into the stream can kill fishes in the river.
Water entering storm drains, unlike water that enters sanitary sewers, does not undergo treatment before it is discharged into waterways.
If you have a pet, pick up after your pet
Pet waste that are near streams or rivers can easily find their way into the streams or rivers. The number of pet waste, especially dogs in some cities in America, is very high. If you own a pet, the best thing to do is to always pick up after your pets and dispose of their waste properly.
Do not litter
One of the efficient ways to stop drain blockage is to avoid littering. Litter not properly disposed of most of the time find their ways into the drains, and accumulation will surely cause drain blockage. When you find litter on the street, you should really pick it up and dispose of properly because, by doing so, you are taking responsibility for securing your environment in your own hands.
Methods used to unblock a stormwater drain
Classic Plunger Method: This is done by forcing air through the pipe to clear the clog. Before plunging, you should cover the overflow with a damp cloth and ensure the drain is sealed. Then you can force air through the blockage
Drain Auger Method: Another method you can use to unblock your drain is to hire a drain auger. It can unblock anything, including shifting tree roots away from your pipes. This method needs total concentration because it can be dangerous if you do not know to do it.
Use of Chemicals: Another method of unblocking drains is through the use of chemicals. There are very strong chemicals that have been produced, which are primarily for unblocking drains. Caustic soda and hydrochloric acid are two chemicals that have proven very effective in unblocking drains. You just have to pour the chemical down the affected drain and leave for half an hour or as instructed by the manufacturer.
Call a professional: Hiring a professional might be expensive, but a professional plumber can help you solve the problem of drain blockage.
