Vacuum Trucks Clean Up After a Flood!

Flooding is sometimes inevitable after a heavy rain storm, particularly when debris and silt collect and block the flow of water in storm sewers and drainage systems. If not fixed, the blockage will cause this excess run-off to linger, affecting both motorists and pedestrians. Thankfully, there is equipment specifically designed to provide relief from this kind of problem called vacuum trucks.

Flooding Dangers

Flooding is more than just an inconvenience to pedestrians and commuters. Submerged roads are dangerous to drive on since water reduces traction between the wheels and the road. The situation can become even more dangerous during the winter when melted snow can re-freeze into a layer of ice on the road which could cause vehicles to skid dangerously out of control.

Role of Storm Drains

Storm drains are conduit systems designed specifically to get rid of liquid run-off caused by precipitation and melting snow; they prevent rainstorms from flooding roads and the surrounding area. Storm sewers are an important infrastructure, especially in urban areas. Unlike rural areas where much of the rain is absorbed by the soil, urban locations and especially large cities have much of the ground covered in cement which does not absorb any liquid at all. Without a properly installed drainage system, rain water will simply collect and could result in flooding.

A storm system is a large infrastructure that runs beneath cities and is solely dedicated to removing this liquid run-off. The location of storm drains, as well as the size of the pipes used, are carefully planned to accommodate large volumes of water without overflowing.

A storm system has three major parts:

Inlet- The inlet is an opening usually found on the side of the road. The inlet is grated in order to keep large debris from entering and blocking the pipes. Smaller debris that goes through the inlet grating is collected in the catch basin.
Pipes- The pipes direct the run-off out of the city. The diameter of the pipes varies depending upon the volume of liquid collected. The smallest pipes are the ones directly connected to the drainage inlet. The pipes get larger as several smaller ones merge to compensate for the increased volume. Water run-off systems also have other features such as falls, stairways, balconies and pits for catching debris.
Outlet- All the pipes, as well as the run-off, lead to massive outlets. In most cases, the rain water drains to natural bodies of water such as oceans, rivers, lakes, or canals, where it can be safely discharged.

Flooding Causes

Despite the fact that cities have floodwater removal plans, flooding still occurs. There are two reasons for this: first, the volume of precipitation is too much for the drainage system to handle; and second, the catch basins on the drainage system are clogged with so much debris that they restrict the flow of water.

Vacuum Trucks Role

If the flooding is caused by a clogged catch basin in the drainage system, help can be provided by vacuum trucks. The catch basin is specifically designed to catch debris and prevent it from entering the pipes; however, the debris can collect over a period of time and cause a clog. It is the role of the vacuum truck to regularly clean out catch basins and prevent clogging. Despite this regular activity, catch basins can still swell easily during heavy rain and the end result can be flooding. During this type of crisis, vacuum trucks can be called in to perform their extracting service and relieve the clog.

Flood sewer systems are designed to prevent an excess of precipitation from gathering in a particular area; however, they do require regular maintenance in order for them to effectively perform their duty which is where the role of vacuum trucks is so vital. The drainage system and vacuum trucks work in tandem to prevent an inundation. When catastrophic flooding events do occur, vacuum trucks are there to clean up after a deluge!

Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. To find out more about Vacuum Trucks, go to the main website at: http://www.vacuumtrucksales.net/home.

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Vacuum Trucks Clean Up Hurricane Debris!

Hurricanes are one of the most devastating powers of nature. A hurricane takes a course and everything that is in its path will undoubtedly experience some kind of destruction. This ocean-water storm can destroy nearly everything that stands in its way including: roads and highway networks; houses and businesses; water and sewer systems; and electric and cable distribution systems to name a few.

The ravaging effects of hurricanes can cause severe damage that will leave an area filled with a huge debris field of trees, broken poles, collapsed building infrastructures and damaged cars. After the hurricane passes, extensive flooding this is caused by the storm surge frequently follows and inflicts damage as well, significantly clogging and blocking storm sewers which in turn interfere with the drainage systems of entire neighborhoods. This is where the unique capabilities of vacuum trucks come to the rescue.

Hurricane Katrina

After Katrina nearly wiped out the entire City of New Orleans, the U. S. Army organized emergency teams to clean the blocked catch basins. Compliance EnviroSystems (CES) was assigned to locate vacuum trucks which could clear as much debris as possible as well as clear the basins. This cleaning operation was performed after the flood had subsided. Eight vacuum trucks were deployed and the crews started clearing out the hardest-hit areas. These vehicles cleaned as many catch basins as quickly as possible and were able to help on some of the larger cleaning projects. The crews manually removed the rubble, vacuumed the mud that had collected in the basins and pressure-washed all involved areas.

Maintenance of Catch Basins

The high-performance, high-quality industrial vacuum trucks are the result of an intensive effort to streamline and promote different types of activities for these vehicles such as cleaning up catch basins from flood water. These trucks are a product line intended not only for the transportation of hazardous and toxic waste material but also for the removal and transportation of debris from sewage systems. Indeed, they have become powerful tools that provide the cleaning power and efficient work system that everyone can look to when hurricanes occur.

Catch basins are designed to trap debris so that it does not enter the drainage system. Cleaning these receptacles is part of the regular maintenance performed to be sure that they are properly functioning. This operation includes the removal of sediment, leaves, contaminants and other debris from such containment. By suction of the sediment from the catch basins, flooding problems within the drainage networks can be significantly reduced by preventing the build-up of contaminants.

Many municipalities perceive that they will have difficulty in acquiring vacuum trucks because of their expensive price tag and potentially high maintenance costs. Unfortunately, they do not realize that these vehicles are now available at a lower price and come with a higher quality that makes them overall more affordable.

The vacuum truck is a modern piece of equipment that can do an excellent job of clearing debris after a storm. To maintain a high level of productivity without the disruption of other recovery activities especially after hurricanes or extensive flooding, a fleet of vacuum trucks is necessary to do the job other equipment cannot handle. Manual labor would take half a day to clear out one catch basin; by using these vehicles, it only takes one hour. Productivity is rapid, efficient and very clean - what an advantage in the clean-up efforts after hurricanes!

Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. To find out more about Vacuum Trucks, go to the main website at: http://www.vacuumtrucksales.net/home.

View the original article here

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