Storms and rainy weather are inconvenient enough, but a flooding catchpit on your street can really turn your day upside-down. A stormwater drainage system that’s improperly maintained will cause a lot of problems, forcing you to throw money down the drain on constant repairs every time the sky opens to flood your street.

Here at Streamline, we’ve serviced and cleaned out a number of catchpits, and offer our clients some common flooding explanations to help them avoid unwanted catchpit flooding. Here are some reasons why your catchpit is bursting beyond capacity.

The catchpit drained foreign substances

Stormwater systems are supposed to only drain rain, with a grate designed to stop foreign substances or solids from entering a catchpit. Leaves and litter are the general culprits, but cans, bottles, and similar items can also slip into your catchpit and cause problems.

Sediments and contaminants from nearby construction work can also block your catchpit, preventing it from functioning correctly. Work sites should install catchpit protection such as sandbags or sand-filled socks to trap sediment and minimise the number of contaminants that enter the drain system.

The catchpit isn’t the right size

A catchpit’s specifications should be designed to suit its particular use and needs. In particular, its size will depend largely on the type and amount of water it will receive. If your catchpit is maintained properly and you’re still experiencing flooding issues, you may want to consider increasing its capacity.

Other things you can consider for your catchpit’s specifications are the immediate environmental conditions such as the terrain, type of soil around it, and amount of rain the area experiences annually.

The catchpit needs maintenance

Stormwater naturally flows into a catchpit grate, carrying solids with it that settle at the bottom of a catchpit. This prevents silt and debris from building up and causing direct blockages. However, when too many of these solids fill the pit over time, it can cause a blockage and lead to flooding. Catchpits need regular maintenance – catchpit solids should be periodically pumped out and removed from the system.

Additionally, regular catchpit maintenance plays an important role in protecting our waterways and beautiful beaches from toxic metal contamination. Failing to regularly maintain or clean out your catchpit causes silt and debris to make its way into waterways, which is harmful to aquatic life and leads to unwanted environmental prosecution costs for property owners.

Regular catchpit servicing

If you want to stop throwing money down the drain and prevent future flooding issues, Streamline can put your catchpits on a set cycle, and service them annually or more frequently if required. Contact us today and arrange a one-off clean, or schedule a regular drain unblocking service to ensure you have a healthy drainage system.