Following the events of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales and the current flooding devastation in north and western Queensland, it’s clear it is time to talk about storm drains. Whether you were one of the lucky ones who just weathered slightly stronger than normal wind and heavy rain, or if you got unlucky and sustained damage from downed trees and flooding, it’s now time to turn towards the clean-up and make sure you’re prepared for the next one.
Hopefully, the next event like this one won’t be for another 50 years, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Floods are also unfortunately common across Queensland, so it’s important that your drains can handle the deluge to protect your property. To that point, today’s article will explore some of the things you can do now to restore your external drainage after this severe storm.
Damage That Floods and Storms Cause
Cyclones, or even just heavy storms, can inundate your external drainage systems and cause damage or issues that can prevent water from flowing away effectively. Common storm-related damage includes blockages from debris, erosion from fast-flowing water and collapsed or damaged pipes from downed trees or other heavy debris.
The most obvious sign that your drainage system is damaged is if water is pooling in on your property and is unable to drain away. This is a common cause of localised flooding. If you notice this, it’s important to act as soon as it is safe to do so to restore your drainage system and protect your property from further flooding.
Safety Precautions for Handling Damaged Drainage
Flood waters can be full of bacteria, sewage and other rubbish that can make you sick or cause injuries, so it is important to take a few safety measures to protect yourself before starting any work on your property or drainage system.
This includes wearing closed-in shoes or boots and gloves, and thoroughly inspecting the area for dangerous debris or electrification before walking anywhere or coming into contact with standing water. Once you are confident that the area is safe, you can start to enact measures to restore your drains.
Assessing Your Drainage System
Start by inspecting and assessing your drainage system at all visible points, including gutters, downpipes, risers, grates and stormwater pits. Check for obstructions or damage, both at a surface level and inside the drains. Be sure to take clear photos of any damage that you find as you may be able to claim the repairs on your insurance.
However, if you are unable to find any damage, then any issues could be further downstream, such as a blockage in the underground pipes.
Clearing Debris and Blockages
After inspecting the drainage systems and documenting any damage, you can start to clean up. Carefully clean leaves, dirt and rubbish out of your gutters, drains and pits, disposing of it properly in your general or green waste bin as appropriate.
You can do this by using a leaf rake or broom to clean off the surface of your drain grates and gloves to scrape out your gutters, this basic clearing may even improve water flow if the issue is at a surface level. If you notice any debris or blockages under the drain grates or covers, you can remove them to thoroughly clean inside the drain itself. You can then hose out your gutters, downpipes and drains to wash away any remaining debris and also check how well it is draining.
Repairing Damaged Drainage Systems
If cleaning restores proper flow and no damage is obvious, happy days, your drainage is likely good to go and weathered the storm perfectly. However, if your drains are still not flowing properly or have obvious damage then you will need to have them professionally inspected, repaired or replaced.
Contact a drain specialist or plumber to inspect your drainage, they will be able to advise whether they can repair or unblock your drains or whether they need to be replaced. This will likely depend on the extent of the damage and complexity of the repairs, sometimes it is more cost-effective to replace the system than repair it, however, a plumber will be able to provide tailored advice.
Futureproof Your Drainage
After being through this kind of severe weather at least once, you’ll now understand how important it is to be prepared. So, once your property is tidied and restored from this event you can turn your focus to the future. Take some time to futureproof your property for future events like floods, storms and even cyclones.
If you found your drainage was insufficient for this deluge, then you may want to consider upgrading your system by adding extra drains, pits, and downpipes or replacing it entirely. If you’re looking for a reliable drainage system to upgrade to, EasyDRAIN is the way to go. Our EasyDRAIN channels and grates are made of high-quality and durable materials to withstand harsh weather events and offer reliable drainage for medium to heavy rainfall and water flow.
Bounce Back Effectively After Storms and Flooding
Storms and flooding can cause immense stress, damage and mess, but the sooner we get the cleanup and restoration done the sooner we can return to the everyday norm and just look back on this as a bad week. By taking the time to go through these steps as soon as it is safe, you can effectively restore your external drainage systems and ensure your property is protected from further flooding.
If you’re interested in upgrading your drainage system to better prepare for future weather events like this one, you can learn more about our EasyDRAIN and other stormwater solutions on our website. You can also pick up our Everhard Industries drainage solutions at most plumbing retailers or Bunning Warehouses, find a retailer near you to get started!