Is Your Property Vulnerable to Flooding?
How do you know if your business is at risk for flooding? Should you be worried if your property is located near wetlands? Is it safer in a city?
First, let’s examine the facts.
Wetlands are considered to be “natural sponges” that soak in moisture and water easily. They can be marshes, swamp land, the edge of a lake or ocean, and the mouth of a river. They can also be located in urban areas.
The good news: If your property is located near wetlands, never fear. Wetlands are a good thing, especially for the environment. Water is much less likely to be polluted, and the natural sponge-like quality of the land gives storm water a place to go.
Did you know that owning property near wetlands DOES NOT necessarily mean your building will be likely to flood? In fact, the opposite is true. Because the excess water has a place to go, whether you’re near a river, lake or ocean, water is trapped in these natural places and released slowly out into the ground, whether it’s from rain or melting snow. In this way, a location near wetlands can actually help you control flooding. It’s also important to have a proper drainage system that can help carry the water out to the natural area. Because wetlands are so important to the natural habitat, many efforts are currently underway to protect them.
This is not to say that there would not be some challenges with wetlands if a natural event, such as a hurricane or other severe weather incident, occurred.
If your business is located in a low-lying, urban area, it may be prone to flooding. This is because the pavement won’t soak up water, so there’s no place for it to go. Businesses in cities are especially vulnerable to flooding.
This is why storm water maintenance is so important—to prevent flooding and clean up existing water damage.
VacTone provides a variety of services, including wet and dry vacuuming. We also provide services for maintaining your storm water filtration systems. If your business is located in an urban area, it’s very important to have flood prevention and storm water maintenance services—protecting your business from any potential flood damage or unsafe drinking water. Again, flooding in an urban area increases the likelihood of water pollution.
The professionals at VacTone Environmental work on the care and maintenance of stormceptors, catch basins and other devices to prevent water pollution and backup issues. VacTone will provide you with high-efficiency vacuum equipment to clear out sludge from your facility. In addition, we’ll set up a regular maintenance schedule.
If your business is located in a flood zone, be sure to familiarize yourself with the federal regulations regarding flood zones. At VacTone, we make sure all of our work is up to current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. This is another good reason to call on professionals, because you may not know all that is required, depending on whether or not your property is in either a flood zone or an area that is considered “wetlands.”
No matter what your business, it’s important to be environmentally aware and to take the necessary precautions so you don’t have flood damage in your building. Contact VacTone for a consultation today. We’ll work with you to deliver cost-effective strategies that will give you the peace of mind you need.
VacTone Environmental Services, serving Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.