photos by Charlie London
* EFFICIENT AND TORRENTIAL TROPICAL RAINS ARE EXPECTED TO ONSET
TODAY AND CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE MID-GULF REGION THROUGH THE
LABOR DAY WEEKEND. RAIN RATES OF 1 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR CAN
RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING AND GENERAL PONDING OF WATER IN
STREETS. MODEL ESTIMATES AND THE NOAA HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL
PREDICTION CENTER INDICATES AN AVERAGE OF 10 INCHES MAY OCCUR
THIS WEEKEND ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. LOCALIZED HIGHER AMOUNTS 15
TO 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE…DEPENDING ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF
THE GULF SYSTEM INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK
USE YOUR BRAIN CLEAN YOUR DRAIN!
If you think the City of New Orleans is going to clean the catch basin in front of your home please rethink that plan. If you don’t clean the catch basin in front of your home it is you who will suffer the consequences. Please consider cleaning the catch basins in and around your home NOW!
Click here for EPA recommendations for catch basin cleaning.
A catch basin, which is also known as a storm drain inlet or curb inlet, is an opening to the storm drain system that typically includes a grate or curb inlet at street level where storm water enters the catch basin and a sump captures sediment, debris and associated pollutants. Catch basins are able to prevent trash and other floatable materials from entering the drainage system by capturing such debris by way of a hooded outlet. The outlet pipes for catch basins on combined sewers (sanitary waste and storm water in a single pipe) are also outfitted with a flapper (trap) device to prevent the backflow of any unpleasant odors from pipes. Catch basins act as pretreatment for other treatment practices by allowing larger sediments to settle in the basin sump areas.
Click here to see catch basin guidelines from Connecticut.
It is important to maintain catch basins to prevent storm sewer blockages and minimize the amount of pollutants entering storm sewers which may eventually discharge into local streams and waterways such as Lake Ponchartrain. Clogged catch basins can also result in the ponding of water along streets and parking lots causing a nuisance to motorists, pedestrians and businesses.
How you can help: When you are clearing your sidewalk or driveway, dispose of waste in trash receptacles instead of sweeping it into the gutters or catch basins.
If leaves or other debris are blocking a catch basin near your house or business, remove and dispose of the debris properly.
Article from:
http://www.bwsc.org/PROJECTS/Maintenance/catchbasin.asp