Wet spring in El Niño year 2016 challenge for drainage

Thursday 11 February 2016

Following a winter with a major El Niño, large parts of Europe will undoubtedly be faced with a very wet spring. This means drainage systems will be sorely taxed during this agriculturally important season. It is therefore critical that drainage pipes are well maintained and flushed clean so they will drain off excess groundwater and precipitation.

The spring of 2016 is expected to be very wet indeed. As predicted, this year’s El Niño is extremely strong. In fact, it is one of the largest El Niños in the last century and a half. The wet spring will occur in a swath that stretches over the south of England, northern France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and an area around Kiev.

Although Europe falls outside the major paths of El Niño influence, the continent will be affected by the lingering effects of the strong warming of the ocean water in the Pacific Ocean. Thus it is very likely that we will receive far more precipitation in 2016 than normal, just as we saw in previous El Niño years 1983 and 1998. The chance of a wet spring with more than 169 millimetres rain is estimated to be around 70 percent.

When we are inundated with tremendous rainfall in a short period of time, a properly functioning drainage system is essential to quickly carry off the excess water. It is therefore important that the drainage pipes are clean and free of blockages or obstructions. What’s more, poorly maintained drainage pipes will become clogged more quickly as a result of fine soil particles being washed in during heavy rains.

In general, cleaning is recommended every five years in clay soils and every other year for sandy soils. The effects of heavy rain caused by an El Niño, however, can be so severe that sudden blockages can occur in drain pipes.

In order to continue to obtain maximum benefit from the investment in a drainage system it is therefore important to ensure it is in optimal condition. Preventive flushing with a Sieger Drain-Jet drain cleaner not only makes the drained agricultural land more accessible earlier in the season; good water management also maximizes crop growth rates and results in higher yields.