Monday, March 27, 2017

Cleaning of open gutters

It has been observed that open gutters constructed in cities and towns for storm water runoff are being used to carry wastewater, either untreated or partially treated in septic tanks. In slum areas of any city this is a common system of carrying wastewater. These open gutters are often choked due to solid waste dumped in it. There are many cases, where the gutters do not have proper slope of free flow outlet and remain flooded and stagnant most of the time. Mosquito breeding, ground water pollution and chances of direct skin contact of wastewater to playing children are the direct results of allowing such gutters to function.


Construction of such gutters is considered to be a short term, low cost solution to solve water pollution problem in residential area, but it leads to permanent source of pollution and receptor of street cleanings and solid wastes. City authorities try to keep the gutters clean by periodic removal of solid wastes and spraying insecticides. However, due to new construction of houses or road repairs these gutters are often found to be blocked at many places and the percolation of wastewater remains the only alternative for emptying these gutters.

Even though, it is essential to abolish this system and replace it with underground drainage system, it is not possible to provide interim relief until necessary financial sanction is obtained and the long term project of under-drainage extension is completed.

Never the less, in to order to protect health of people and reduce pollution, it is duty of the city authority to provide portable pump and tanker system for regular of emptying of such stagnant water and transfer it to nearby manhole chamber of existing underground drainage system. Diesel operated slurry type open impeller pumps and tanker system used for septic tank cleaning can be employed for the purpose. The lifting of such stagnant water at least two times a week will prevent mosquito breeding. Cleaning of gutters also will be easy. Citizen and public representatives should insist on such measures to be implemented till alternative long term permanent solution of under drainage system is completed.

Such measure will reduce the ground water pollution, mosquito breeding, skin diseases, expenses of insecticides and health hazards.

1 comment:

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