The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest long-range forecast indicates a wetter-than-average spring is likely for much of eastern and central Australia. Pipe Management Australia is geared up and ready to support your council with the full suite of stormwater maintenance services before storms hit, during them, and throughout the post-season recovery.
The Bureau’s “Chance of Exceeding Median Rainfall” outlook shows many regions along the east coast and inland have at least a 50% chance (and in places even higher) of exceeding their median spring rainfall.
While we’re not seeing the same confidence currently in a La Niña declaration, the climate drivers are pointing toward increased rainfall risks: indices like the Indian Ocean Dipole have dipped, backing the wetter forecast.
The conditions are lining up for a busier storm season than usual. Now is the time for councils to get on the front foot. PMA is ready to deliver proactive stormwater works, reactive responses during heavy rainfall, and resilient post-storm rehabilitation to help your municipality stay ahead.
Now is the perfect time to prepare stormwater networks for the wetter weather forecast in the coming months. Here are some of the ways that Pipe Management Australia can help to prepare for storm season:
Gross Pollutant Traps or Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQID) play a vital role in keeping our waterways clean from litter, plant matter and other large pollutants. However, when GPTs are full or not maintained, pollutants can overflow during rainfall events. Cleaning out GPTs before the wetter weather arrives can reduce the risk of flooding and help to ensure these assets keep our rivers clean.
Like GPT’s, stormwater drains can become blocked with silt, debris and even tree roots, which can prevent them from draining water in heavy rainfall events. To prevent flooding, drain lines can be cleaned with Combo Jetter Vacuum Units.
Additionally, root cutting or robotics may be required to remove roots blocking the drain and patching to repair any breaks in the pipe. Broken pipes left unrepaired can lead to sinkholes and other issues during heavy rainfall events. Undertaking maintenance in preparation for storm season can ensure stormwater drains are running at optimal hydraulic capacity.
Culverts play a vital role in preventing water from impacting roads and railway lines during heavy rainfall events. Culverts can become filled with silt, mud and even large rocks and boulders. The dryer months provide optimal conditions for conducting inspections to assess whether culverts need to be cleaned. PMA’s Combo Jetter Units carry a variety of jetter nozzles and sleds for cleaning culverts.
We also operate Australia’s only MicroTraxx remote controlled culvert cleaning units, ideal for removing silt, debris and large rocks.
An often-overlooked but critical part of preparing for storm season is CCTV (closed-circuit television) inspection of your stormwater and drainage networks. When done in advance, during drier periods, these inspections help you understand exactly what you’re dealing with before heavy rainfall begins. After major storm events, follow-up CCTV work ensures any damage or blockages are caught early.
Clear visuals = more accurate assessments
In dry conditions, pipes and culverts are free of flowing water, sediment loads, and turbidity, making it easier to spot cracks, misalignments, inflows, root intrusion, pipe deformations or structural defects.
Plan remediation ahead of time
Early detection gives you the time to budget, schedule, mobilise crews, order parts and permits — you’re not trying to respond in crisis mode once storms arrive.
Maximise productivity
Without water in the system or active flows to contend with, inspection crews can move faster, reduce rework and avoid downtime delays associated with pumping or bypassing flows.
Verify hydraulic capacity
You can validate that pipes are clear of obstructions that would otherwise reduce flow capacity under storm loads. It’s effectively a “preflight check” on your network.
Storms, especially severe or prolonged ones, place enormous stress on drainage systems. Pipes may shift, joints might separate, roots or debris can intrude, or scour and sub-soil movement may undermine structures. That makes post-event CCTV inspections invaluable,
Barrier Dams or Cofferdams can be used for a variety of projects in waterways or tidal reaches to create a dry work zone. Installing barrier dams prior to the storm season when water levels are lower, and when there is less likelihood of rainy days, can reduce the need for pumping and drastically reduce project costs.
Over nearly two decades, PMA has refined the art of drain cleaning and stormwater maintenance. PMA maintains a fleet of over 90 specialty vehicles with capabilities across CCTV, root cutting and pipe repairs. Working with local councils, utilities, construction and infrastructure projects, PMA have developed core competencies across the breadth of stormwater maintenance services.
If you need assistance preparing for the wetter weather, give PMA a call on 1800 455 660. We will be happy to assist.