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Caption:Satellite image showing drainage system in place; images from CCTV video footage inside camp site drainage systems.
Carry on camping - and glamping - with clean and clear drains
Campsite owners are being advised to make sure drainage systems can cope with Britain's volatile weather as they welcome record visitors for a summer staycation.
Drainage and wastewater specialist Lanes Group plc says full-to-bursting camp and caravan parks add extra pressure on drainage systems - putting them at extra risk from heavy rain from more frequent summer storms.
Campsite and caravan park owners across the UK are in line for a bumper summer season as more Brits holiday at home due to concerns about flight cancellations and the cost of living crisis.
This is likely to accelerate a trend boosted by the popularity of glamping - camping in luxury tents or lodges with resort-style amenities.
Rachel Frankland, Area Development Manager at the Lanes St Neots depot in Cambridgeshire, said: "Keeping drainage systems on camp sites in tip top condition is vitally important.
"Toilets, shower blocks, and washing facilities are intensively used over the summer season. Closing them because of drain faults would be disaster.
"Site 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.
"This has become a more critical issue in recent years, as more volatile weather caused by climate change, increases the risk of surface drains becoming overwhelmed, causing flash floods."
Lanes depots across the UK have been called in by holiday companies to carry out planned preventative maintenance to prepare for choc-a-bloc sites.
For example, Lanes St Neots has carried out CCTV drainage surveys at three camp sites in Cambridge and Norfolk.
Where camping and caravan sites are located away from mains sewer systems, septic tanks, sewage treatment plants and water discharge systems need to be inspected and maintained.
Lanes is also ready to help if the worst happens and campsite drainage systems fail. Rachel Frankland said: "Drainage emergencies do happen.
"We have the experience and specialist vehicles needed to respond quickly and decisively to drain blockages and surface water flooding."
Planned, preventative maintenance (PPM) on campsite drainage systems, informed by CCTV surveys, is likely to pay dividends over the summer.
Campsite owners will 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.
Lanes St Neots used remote access mini camera systems 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 the 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.
Rachel Frankland said: "All our survey data is sent via the Cloud from site to the Lanes national CCTV survey centre, where it is quickly processed and reports are compiled.
"This is a major benefit for our clients because we can ensure our CCTV survey reports are of a uniform high standard and are made available as quickly as possible.
"If necessary, we can create the report, along with recommendations for further action, which could involve drain cleaning, lining or excavation and replacement, in a matter of hours."
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.
Holiday experts say the UK will experience a second staycation wave due to ongoing concern about flight cancellations and the cost of living crisis.
Lanes Group:www.lanesfordrains.co.uk
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PR Contact:Andy Comber
Telephone: 01952 883526
Mobile: 07889 630440
Email: ac@matm.co.uk
About Lanes Group
Lanes Group plc is a national wastewater and drainage solutions provider. It sits at the heart of the drainage industry in the UK and Ireland, and is serious about delivering excellence in service, safety and innovation.
The company has a network of 32 depots and strategic utility hubs, providing high quality utility, drainage, and maintenance services for commercial, public sector and domestic customers.
Specialist market sectors include water utilities, construction, energy, rail, highways, insurance and commercial maintenance.