Be Prepared Before the Next Flood. In addition to insuring your property, there are things you can do to minimize potential losses to your home and ensure your family’s safety.

 

Keeping Culverts and Low Water Crossings Clear

Many properties here in Doddridge County have culverts and low water crossings of culvert pipe. Culvert and crossing maintenance are important because an unmaintained culvert or crossing can cause drainage problems and can damage roads and driveways.

Culvert and low water crossing must be maintenance in order to keep them clear and working properly. In most cases, homeowners are responsible for residential culvert maintenance and repair. Repairs can be very costly, so it’s in your best interest to make sure your low water crossings and or culverts are properly maintained at all times.

Culverts and low water crossings tend to fill with natural debris. Trees and tree limbs, weeds, grass and other summer growth, as well as fallen leaves which can quickly fill a culvert and low water crossing. Silt, which accumulates over time, can also cause drainage problems. Organic matter should never be allowed to reduce water flow or drainage in the crossing or culvert. If these openings are not properly maintained in the fall, serious drainage problems can occur in the spring when winter snows melt.

If your low water crossing or culvert is adjacent to a public roadway or another property, routine inspections and culvert maintenance are key to avoiding flooding that could damage the roadway or an adjacent property. Removing silt, organic debris, trash, vegetation and trees should be a part of your culvert maintenance routine. Crossing and culvert inlets and outlets should be examined for signs of deterioration, damage or soil erosion. Regular maintenance can extend the life of the crossing and culvert and help you avoid costly repairs. It also allows you to inspect the condition of the culvert and identify any problems with the lining or the culvert or crossing construction that could lead to catastrophic failures.

 

“DON’T FLOOD YOURSELF AND DON’T FLOOD YOUR NEIGHBOR”