FMJ.CO.UK
MONTH IN FM
A DRAIN ON UK BUSINESSES:
THE TRUE COST OF FLOODING,
AND HOW TO PREPARE
Picture the scene: it’s Monday
NOVEMBER 2021 51
morning. The weather has
been awful over the weekend.
Your client has arrived on site
to find flash flooding has le’
damage to their building, and
the car park is underwater.
The company needs to close
for the next few days while
repairs and clean-ups take place,
leaving staŠ stuck at home and
customers unable to do business
with the firm.
It’s a scene becoming all too
common. In fact, July saw the
highest ever number of flood
claims per month from commercial
properties – doubling the previous
record.
Flooding and its risk to
businesses
Nearly one in three business
premises in the UK are at risk
of flooding ; the average cost of
flood damage to companies is
around £82,000 and figures show
small businesses can lose up to 50
working days when they experience
flooding leading to loss of custom
and damage to their reputation.
There is significant evidence that
heavy rainfall events are becoming
more frequent in the UK due to
climate change, so much needs
to be done to ensure the existing
infrastructure in our towns and cities can cope when
flooding occurs. Proficient drainage is essential to
protect those businesses that need it most.
The role of drains in minimising flood damage
Localised flooding occurs when sewer and
drainage systems become overwhelmed by sudden
downpours. This happens when drains aren’t
properly maintained and are blocked with debris,
meaning water can’t naturally flow downwards
towards an outlet. But because urban floodwaters
typically become mixed with sewage, a significant
flooding event also poses additional health risks
and even higher repair costs to properties.
While it’s almost impossible to completely
eliminate the risk of flooding, there are tools and
services available to facilities managers which
enable them to make sure the drains supporting
their companies, clients and wider communities are
fit for purpose , ensuring businesses can minimise
the costs and disruption that flooding brings.
Proactive preparation
Drainage gullies are great at removing surface
water from a property or car park, but if they aren’t
maintained, silt can build up and solidify, preventing
surface water from e ectively draining away. To
help, regular de-silting will ensure a property’s
drains are well maintained and minimise problems
in the event of heavy rainfall.
Another tool in your proactive
preparation should be regularly
cleaning your drains. This prevents
debris from leaves, mud, grease, fat
and oils that o˜ en end up in drains
collecting and clogging the drain,
reducing its capacity to handle excess
rainfall. Specialist drain maintenance
services such as high-pressure water
jetting can be used to clear the drains,
and flush out the system to prevent
future blockages which can lead to
flooding.
If the properties you maintain
have a car park, no matter how big
or small, drain interceptors are one
of the essential tools you should
consider. O˜ en seen as the final
point of drainage defence, they
are designed to stop silt, oil and
grease which sit on the surface of
industrial sites or car parks entering
the drainage system — separating
pollutants from the stormwater and
preventing the build-up of debris.
Likewise, if your property features
commercial kitchens, a grease trap, if
well maintained, can prevent fat, oil
and grease from entering the drainage
system and adding to the risk of a
blockage.
Meanwhile, drain mapping should
become a vital part of your flood risk
management. Knowing the layout of
the drainage network sitting below
a business educates you on where
surface water should drain away and gives you the
knowledge to quickly identify where a problem may
lie, and how you can access it should flash flooding
occur.
As we move into winter, the added seasonal
demand and adverse weather will increase pressure
on drains across the country, so the best time to
begin managing the risk of flooding is now. Our
nationwide team of local engineers are available
24/7, 365 days a year, operating from over 50 depots
which are within one hour’s travel time of 85 per
cent of commercial properties in the UK. By taking
steps today to plan for the future, businesses will be
better prepared to handle whatever it is the weather
throws at us in the coming months.
www.metrorod.co.uk 01625 507 945
/www.metrorod.co.uk
