Plymouth City Staff Remind Residents to Help Keep Storm Drains Clear
Fall and spring are the perfect time to keep storm drains clear, according to Plymouth city staff.
“We want to make sure that we don’t have flooding concerns when we do have those heavy rain events, and all of those drains could be plugged with either leaves, sticks, (and) grass clippings,” said City of Plymouth Water Resources Supervisor Ben Scharenbroich.
Scharenbroich recommends residents try to tend to storm drains near their homes, as city crews don’t sweep curbs and streets as aggressively in neighborhoods as they do in commercial districts.
City of Plymouth staff remind residents to keep storm drains clear of debris to alleviate flooding after heavy rains and sediment build-up in waterways downstream.
“We love it when people take ownership of the storm drains or ownership in the neighborhood. It really does show,” he said.
Storm drains are designed to specifically rid the streets–and surrounding yards and low-lying areas–of standing water after heavy rains.
“If there is flooding in the street, typically there is an issue down in the pipe,” said Scharenbroich. “That takes a lot more staff time and resources to help figure that out.”
Instead, algae can grow and that can impact the city’s lakes and streams.
“It’s important for residents in the city to pick up as much of this sediment, leaves, debris, so it doesn’t get in our waterways,” said Scharenbroich.
The city does offer an option for residents or businesses to adopt a drain on its website.
