Navigating the Flood: Drainage Maintenance for Industrial Estates

Britain, as we know, is largely underprepared and underequipped to deal with extreme weather events. However, as climate change accelerates, we’re seeing more frequent and more powerful storms hit the UK every winter, bringing deluges of rainwater. This poses unique challenges for all of us, and industrial estates can face some especially acute problems if their drainage isn’t up to the task. At Cotswold Drainage, not only do we understand the scope and the complexity of these challenges, but we also have the tools and the expertise to address them, both from a preventative stance and from an emergency support perspective.

Common Issues in Industrial Drainage

Industrial drainage is required to handle greater volumes of water than domestic systems, and often suffers from drainage issues related to inadequate runoff management preparedness, leading to potential disruptions or even safety issues as a result of water ingress into business premises. Industrial drainage channels also need to be able to withstand potentially heavy physical loads as machinery and stock is moved around, as well as potential chemical exposure. Unfortunately, sudden surges of water caused by winter storms, as well as drops in temperature, can expose underlying flaws in your industrial drainage, although by this stage, it’s normally too late and the damage is done.

Economic and Operational Consequences of Inadequate Drainage in Industrial Areas

Industrial premises often house large amounts of valuable machinery or stock, and water that is unable to escape down your drains can find its way into your equipment or stock, causing vast amounts of damage and leaving you with a hefty bill. Water that is unable to escape via a drain may also seep into waste and disperse it throughout your building, causing serious hygiene risks and attracting pests such as rats. These issues can be especially severe in the case of food preparation facilities, where hygiene standards are much higher. The result of all these issues, through stock damage, operational downtime, or flooding of equipment, is an unpleasant bill for you.

Benefits of Proactive Drainage Maintenance for Industrial Facilities

The solution to all of these issues? Proper flood preparation and a proactive industrial drainage maintenance schedule. By making sure your facility’s industrial drainage system is up to the task, and properly maintained, you can help prevent operational downtime and nasty unexpected costs, as well as protect the wellbeing of your employees. Regularly servicing drains can help remove any potential blockages, spot any flaws in your system and address them before they become an expensive problem, and help prevent freezing-related damage as trapped water turns to ice in cold weather.

Practical Tips for Industrial Estate Managers to Safeguard Against Flood-Related Drainage Issues

There are a few key steps that industrial estate managers can take to help mitigate flood-related issues in industrial drainage –

• Reviewing existing drainage – It’s worth evaluating your current industrial drainage system and assessing whether it’s capable of handling your operational needs. If you’re unsure, a trusted drainage partner can help you
• Scheduling regular preventative maintenance – Once you’ve established whether your drainage system is up to scratch, it’s important to make sure that any blockages and potential flaws are addressed on a regular basis. This way, you can resolve any problems before they become expensive and potentially dangerous
• Emergency preparedness – Pay attention to flood warnings in your area, and ensure that especially valuable equipment or stock is moved away from potential flood areas, and that you have materials such as sandbags and plastic sheeting on hand to protect potential water ingress areas should you need them

Seasonal Weather and Industrial Drainage Preparedness

The winter months in the UK bring an ever-increasing battering of storms, one after another. Additionally, they also see temperatures drop significantly, and sometimes rapidly. Both of these pose risks to industrial drainage systems, as sudden deluges can overwhelm faulty or clogged drainage systems, and freezing temperatures can then turn any water trapped by debris into ice, expanding it and cracking pipes, leading to expensive repair bills. With winter now in full swing, it’s important to make sure your drains are clear of any debris, so water can flow away from your premises as quickly as possible, and that you have materials on hand to deal with any rising floods should they occur.

Make Sure Your Industrial Drainage System is Ready for Winter

A thorough drainage system maintenance schedule should be an integral part of your overall risk management strategy, as issues caused by poorly maintained drains can cause hygiene and safety risks, as well as damage to stock, equipment and structures. At Cotswold Drainage, we understand the potential hazards of poor drainage maintenance better than anyone and have dealt with worst-case scenarios dozens of times. Don’t let your business be a worst-case scenario, contact us today to schedule a regular industrial drainage maintenance plan, and we’ll help keep your business safe and operational all year round.