Arun

Piped watercourses are prone to blockage or collapse and degrade over time. Where they naturally silt up they are difficult to access and clean and cleaning the inside of a culvert is likely to cost more than carrying out maintenance of an open watercourse, due to the specialist equipment required to access it.

If you are responsible for the maintenance of a culverted watercourse you must keep the water free flowing. Either you or a qualified drainage company should carry out regular inspections and clear any blockages or silt build up as soon as they occur. There are many drainage companies that can inspect and clear culverts. The District Council cannot specifically recommend any, but suggest you search the internet or trade directories for suitable companies, and would always recommend obtaining a range of quotes for comparison, to obtain best value.

A collapsed section of culvert being replaced

Entrances and exits to culverts also need to be kept clear. Some culvert entrances have a weed or trash screen installed, which collects any large debris before it enters the culvert. Any debris, that collects against these, should be removed regularly to ensure the free flow of water. The design of screens must be agreed with the District Council, County Council or Environment Agency and consented prior to installation, as poorly designed screens can cause an obstruction themselves. If installed and maintained correctly they can prevent costly blockages within the culvert. Please contact the District Council for further advice on design details for weed or trash screens via land.drainage@arun.gov.uk

Health and safety must be your top priority when carrying out culvert maintenance. You must risk assess any works you undertake and do everything practically possible to minimise risk.

Grilles and weed screens need to be regularly cleaned to maintain the flow