Storm Drain

Published: September 30, 2017 | Last updated: July 5, 2023

What Does Storm Drain Mean?

A storm drain is a channel or pipe used to carry off rainwater. The term could be used for drains at a home or businesses as well as for the pipes that are part of a city’s drainage system. Trenchless construction is an effective method for installation, repair or cleaning of storm drains.

A storm drain is commonly referred to as a storm sewer, surface water drain, or a stormwater drain.

Trenchlesspedia Explains Storm Drain

Stormwater needs to be properly managed to avoid water backup, the flooding of neighborhoods and damage to cars and houses. Storm drains on private property collect water from the storm gutters of a house. This water may be channeled into a larger, city-wide storm drainage system. Street gutters channel rainwater to storm drains at intervals along the sides of streets, just below the sidewalk line.

Problems arise when storm drains become blocked somewhere along the way, or when the amount of rain simply overwhelms the system. Debris can easily block a rainwater channel, causing water to backup and flood areas behind it.

Storm drains generally take advantage of gravity to collect and move rainwater. Water moves into ever larger pipes in the system, and the overflow may be directed to streams or rivers. Storm drain technology is not new; ancient civilizations used drains to direct the flow of water. In past decades, cities often used combined sewers to save money. Trenchless construction is used in both storm drain and sewer pipe installation and maintenance.

Synonyms

Surface Water Drain

Stormwater Drain

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