{"id":5958,"date":"2022-11-01T15:42:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T05:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nuflow.net\/?p=5958"},"modified":"2023-08-10T11:25:11","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T01:25:11","slug":"preparing-your-storm-drains-for-la-nina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nuflow.net\/preparing-your-storm-drains-for-la-nina\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing your storm drains for La Ni\u00f1a"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared that we are entering the third La Ni\u00f1a season in three years. This announcement means Australian property owners and local councils need to be prepared for heavy rainfall and the increased number of plumbing problems this brings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To combat these issues and help protect homes and infrastructure, there are preventative measures that can minimise impacts and possibly prevent an emergency plumbing situation. When dealing with heavy amounts of rainfall, storm drains will be the saving grace of your local community. It\u2019s important that you do what you can to ensure it\u2019s working effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This meteorological phenomenon is called El Ni\u00f1o-Southern Oscillation, and it has two opposite phases \u2013 El Ni\u00f1o (below average rainfall) and La Ni\u00f1a (above average rainfall).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n La Ni\u00f1a occurs when east-to-west winds in the Pacific Ocean get stronger, changing ocean surface currents and increasing water temperatures. This pumps moisture into the atmosphere along the north and east coastlines. The right weather systems can tap into this moisture, resulting in cloudy skies, very heavy rainfall, and often storms, flooding, and coastal erosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While is it the north and east of Australia that is usually the most affected, this year climate drivers are also expected to bring heavy rainfall to the west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During times of excessive rainfall like La Ni\u00f1a, stormwater drains will divert water away from properties or council land and back into waterways. This includes any runoff from roofs, streets, roads or even water flowing downhill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Storm drains are designed to handle very large volumes which is why they\u2019re so effective, but this also means it\u2019s hard to tell there\u2019s a problem until a heavy rain incident occurs. If things become blocked or aren\u2019t working the way they should, the storm drain can overflow, flooding buildings and surrounding streets. However, by putting in effective preparation beforehand and performing maintenance on stormwater plumbing, you could help prevent or minimise costly damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal of your gutters is to provide a path for rainwater to flow away from the roof, channelling it so it doesn\u2019t make its way beneath the foundation of homes, infrastructure, or public buildings and weaken their structural integrity. Often, there will be downpipes that connect to roofs and flow directly into storm drains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A clear gutter allows this water to flow freely along the intended path, whereas build-ups from leaves, dirt and debris can cause things to overflow. This can impact the effectiveness of stormwater systems, and when debris makes its way through the downpipes it can even contribute to blocking stormwater drains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should ensure your gutters are being regularly maintained to prevent these build-ups. This can be done with pressure cleaning, or by hand. You can also call in the professionals if you want a thorough job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of your maintenance, you should call in a local plumber to inspect your storm drains. Using CCTV equipment, they can examine the interior of your pipes and locate anything contributing to a blocked stormwater system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tree root intrusion is a common issue for inground pipes like the ones connected to storm drains. This is because roots are attracted to the moist soil surrounding the pipes, caused by condensation. The roots will enter the pipe through small cracks and grow inside, blocking them up without you even knowing. Other blockages might just be caused by general debris build-up over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe importance of a stormwater drainage system<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to ensure your storm drains are ready for La Ni\u00f1a<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Clean your gutters\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Check your storm drains for blockages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n