LESIURE & RETAIL CARRY ON CAMPING WITH CLEAR DRAINS


Climate change means camp sites and leisure parks can switch from baking sunshine to devastating floods in an instant. That is why drain maintenance is more crucial than ever, advises Richard Leigh, Development Director at Lanes Group.


This has become a more critical issue as more volatile weather caused by climate change increases the risk of surface drains becoming overwhelmed, contributing to flash floods.


Campsite owners need to be confident foul and surface water drain systems are running smoothy. Some have had time to upgrade drainage capacity, or draw up contingency plans to ensure sudden downpours do not into a devastating crisis.


Business continuity planning needs a strong focus on flood prevention, as well as an emergency response process to remove pooling surface water after bursts of heavy rain.


Where camping and caravan sites are located away from mains sewer systems, as is often the case, extra attention must be given to the inspection and maintenance of septic tanks, sewage treatment plants and water discharge systems.


If these facilities become overwhelmed, for example by surface water getting into the system, there is the added risk of sites being flooded with sewage.


Campsite owners across Britain have been welcoming a record number of visitors thanks to a summer staycation. More Brits are holidaying at home due to concerns about flight cancellations and the cost-of-living crisis.


But packed camping, glamping, caravan and motorhome parks pile extra pressure on drainage systems, putting them at extra risk more frequent summer storms.


Camping holidays in the UK leapt in popularity in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic as Brits lost the opportunity to holiday abroad and people liked the idea of the extra social distance afforded by staying in tents, caravans and motorhomes.


One in five British adults have been on a camping or caravan holiday since the pandemic began, says Mintel – 4.5 million of them for the first time.


In the face of this rising popularity, it is more important than ever before to keep all assets on camp sites in tip top condition, and that definitely includes drains systems.


Toilets, shower blocks, and washing facilities are intensively used over the summer season. Closing them because of drain faults would be disaster. Guests will also want to make full use of open spaces which they won’t be able to if surface water pipes are slow to drain and ground becomes boggy.


Many customers are likely to be staying on camping or glamping sites for the first time. The last thing the owners want is to dampen expectations of a trouble-free stay.


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Our teams across the UK are being called in by holiday companies to help prevent this from happening. An example is CCTV drainage surveys carried out by our St Neots depot at three camp sites in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.


Remote access mini camera systems were used to survey more than 1,000 metres of underground pipework across the three sites, with 94 separate lengths of pipe inspected. The drainage pipes were found to be either plastic or clay, with diameters of 75mm, 100mm and 150mm.


Detailed drainage system maps for all three sites, showing pipe connections, flow directions, and pipe structures – supported by HD-quality video footage, and still images of key locations – were also produced.


The survey data was sent securely via the cloud directly from each site to our national CCTV survey processing centre, where final reports were compiled. This ensures these reports are of a uniform high standard and are made available as quickly as possible.


If necessary, we make recommendations for further action, which could involve drain cleaning, lining or excavation and replacement, in a matter of hours.


The summer staycation could turn into a long-term economic success story for our leisure industry. Careful planning and climate-change risk mitigation is needed to ensure that success is sustained.


www.lanesfordrains.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


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