You probably drive by culverts each and every day without giving them a second thought. That being stated, in New England, they play a key role in our infrastructure. Heavy rains, snowmelt runoffs, and even hurricanes tend to create an excessive amount of water that can lead to floods in a matter of hours if not minutes. That is where culverts come into play. In essence, culverts are openings in embankments that allow water to flow through so that the water does not flood structures such as roads, driveways, trails, or railroad tracks.
In severe storms, the water runoff can completely wash away these structures when culverts are not present, or are not in good working order. Typically speaking, culverts are large cylinders that are reinforced with pipe or concrete. A standard size culvert runs anywhere from one (1) foot in diameter to six (6) feet on diameter. When culverts are working properly, they reduce the build-up of standing water, minimize soil erosion, and provide an escape channel for excessive stormwater and snowmelt runoff.
It is incredibly important that the grounds at your property has the proper water drainage, and a culvert on or nearby your real estate can go a long way in making this happen. When real estate floods, a great deal of damage typically occurs. That damage equals unexpected expenses to property owners. For example, flooding may cause damage to your parking lot or driveway. If the integrity of the structure is drastically reduced, your parking lot or driveway may even need to be replaced.
Any cars or trucks parked in your parking lot or driveway may be damaged if flooding occurs. Nearby buildings may be negatively affected as well. If your neighbors buildings flood, water damage can easily occur. Unless you have a flood insurance policy, your property owners insurance may not cover any of these damages, which means you are going to have to pay for these expenses out of pocket. You may even need to pay for your neighbors damages if the flood began on your property.
Floods can also cause a great deal of damage to the environment by polluting local waterways. It is imperative that culverts are properly maintained; yet a great deal of them are completely neglected. If you own a property that contains a culvert or are responsible for them in your city, town, or municipality please contact a local environmental company that specializes in culvert/drain cleaning services. When culverts are full of trash, debris, and other elements they can cause a great deal of damage to roads, ditches, real estate, and even people.
A culvert-cleaning expert will have the correct tools that are needed to clean the culvert in a manner that ensures it will work when called upon. You simply cannot leave something so important up to chance. Please make sure that any culverts that you are responsible for are cleaned on a regular basis.
If you have any questions about culvert cleaning and maintenance, or would like to schedule service we are glad to help. Jolin Paving & Excavating, Inc. is your New England connection for a vast variety of environmentally related services. Our company has been serving Boston Massachusetts, Southern NH, VT & ME as well as Northern CT & RI since 1952. Please Contact us to learn more today.
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