What are manholes and why are they important?

Read Time:1 Minute, 46 Second

Most of us will spot one or two manholes on a daily basis, but we are unlikely to give any thought as to what they are or what they are there for. They are located on pavements, roads, and sometimes private property.

Simply put, a manhole is essentially an entry point for accessing a water drainage system. Typically, a manhole cover can be removed to allow an engineer or plumber access to the sewage works that run under the ground, ferrying dirty water away to be treated and cleaned. Let’s take a look at this important access point in more detail.

Table of Contents

What is inside a manhole?

A manhole is typically made up of three or four components. The cover, which is the part we might step on when walking along the pavement, can bear a lot of weight and keeps passersby safe from falling in. The chamber is a vertical shaft that leads to the sewers. Sloped concrete inside the manhole, known as benching, directs the flow of water, while a stepladder allows access into the network

Why are manholes important?

Manholes provide vital access to the inner workings of our water sewage system. Although they may not appear very glamorous, manholes play a super-important role in keeping our drainage systems in full working order. If there is a blockage within the water system, access is essential to locate and fix the problem before it causes any real problems, such as leaks or flooding.

In an ideal world, a worker will be able to easily locate and fix blockages promptly; however, diagnostic work is sometimes required to find any blockages or cracks within the pipes. A CCTV drain survey Wolverhampton, which is conducted by a specialist such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/wolverhampton, is worth its weight in gold when it comes to diagnosing drain blockages.

If you are a homeowner with a manhole on your property, it is really important that you do not block access to the manhole, as it may be needed at any time to allow access to the plumbing network.