We know from previous posts that we have a few history buffs out there – well you are going to like this one! The hidden treasures that can be found during culvert cleaning.
We get to see many weird and unusual things in this job but a recent find caught our interest. The first photo below is one side of 1924, King George V English Penny, 100 years old. The next two photos are of the front and back of a 1907 King Edward VII English penny, 117 years old.
Both found by our Jet Vac operator Peter Power while jetting the old culvert system near King John’s Castle, Limerick, January 2024.
So what is a culvert?
A culvert is a structure, which can be new or in this case very old, that channels water past an obstacle or to a subterranean waterway. Typically embedded so as to be surrounded by soil, a culvert may be made from a pipe, reinforced concrete or other material. It allows water to flow unimpeded along its channel. The covering may consist of a pipe, stone, bricks, concrete, steel or other material.
Culverts are often buried beneath the ground and their existence may not even be known to the land owner.
Many culverts are engineered to maintain the flow of water around or beneath roads, bridges and properties. There are far more culverts in the Ireland than most people realise (tens of thousands) and they constitute a major portion of our drainage system. In our cities some of our rivers have been culverted and flow beneath our streets and properties.
Sometimes referred to as simply “Jet-Vac” or “Vac Truck” service, a core drainage cleaning service offers a minimally invasive method for cleaning all diameters of sewer, stormwater, culvert, potable water, and industrial pipeline systems. The basic process involves the use of an industrial water jetter hose and nozzle to pressure wash the inside of pipelines, breaking up and flushing debris towards an access point where a high volume vacuum system sucks it up and deposits it in a truck-mounted tank for disposal.
Why do culverts need to be cleaned?
Jet-Vac cleaning leaves culverts and pipelines clean and free of debris, removing blockages and restoring flow capacity. Jet-Vac cleaning is also an important precursor to pipeline inspection and pipeline rehabilitation.
With our Recycler Jet Vacuum Unit, CD Environmental have the capability to clean any size culvert, and have experience in cleaning channels in any location – from those leading out to the sea, to those travelling underneath road works. To reach those culverts in areas not accessible by drain-cleaning machines, we use off-road machines. Get in touch if we can assist you.
In the meantime, one wonders what else is ‘hidden’ in the culverts all over Ireland.
