Fall is the start of the “wet season” here in Pleasanton, CA. December, January, and February are the wettest months of the year, averaging over 4 inches per month with rain 16 out of every 30 days.
Are your storm drains ready for high rainfall? The best time to maintain them is during extended periods of dry weather, so now is the time to act! Don’t neglect your storm drains and allow them to clog, or you could face numerous hazards.
Added Repair Costs
Your business has enough expenses to worry about without paying for unneeded storm drain repairs. Routine maintenance is a low, predictable cost that keeps your system flowing smoothly. It’s also important to establish best practices to prevent clogged storm drains. For instance:
- Never dump leaves, grass clippings, trash, or other debris into a storm drain inlet.
- Never dispose of motor oil, antifreeze, paint, grease, or other hazardous waste down a storm drain. Not only does this greatly increase maintenance costs, but it also kills aquatic and plant life, making it a criminal offense.
- Avoid over-fertilizing lawns on your property to reduce chemical runoff that could shorten the lifespan of storm drain components.
- Stabilize bare areas with vegetation to reduce soil erosion that could clog your storm drain filter.
Higher Risk of Flooding & Erosion
Twigs, leaves, trash, sediment, and other debris can block storm drain intakes and catch basins. When this happens, rainwater runoff has nowhere else to go but into the street, onto sidewalks and lawns, and into buildings. The resulting flood damage and erosion can be incredibly costly to repair. In this way, you can think of storm drain cleaning as a form of flood insurance.
Threat to Water Quality
Anything resting on a hard surface in an urban setting can wash down the storm drain and into local waterways. This includes pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste, engine oil, and more. A properly cleaned storm drain can filter out some of these chemicals, but a clogged or neglected one could lead to polluted streams and drinking water disease outbreaks.
Overflowed Sanitary Sewer System
Flash flooding is exacerbated by clogged storm drains. One possible outcome of this is a backed-up municipal sewer system. It’s not difficult to imagine the safety hazards—not to mention the costs—associated with cleaning up an overflowed sewer system. You can help avoid this scenario by keeping your storm drains clean and free-flowing.
Fines & Penalties
The rules surrounding local water quality become stricter with each passing year. You may be fined if you allow your storm drains to become clogged. This is a hazard to your company’s profitability, one you can avoid with proper storm drain maintenance.
For your safety, we recommend leaving storm drain cleaning to the professionals at Trinity Liquid Waste. We have 25 years of experience keeping storm drains in Pleasanton, CA flowing smoothly. Call us today at 510-874-6489 or contact us online to schedule the stormwater maintenance services you need.