With the aim of preparing the sewer system for autumn and the arrival of rains, in October Viaqua will step up the preventative cleaning programme for the Santiago sewer system, which stretches to 647 km.

The work, which is carried out throughout the year, is part of an advanced management system that includes both the frequency of inspection and thorough cleaning of the sewer and rainwater networks, with special emphasis on problem points. The municipal company also carries out regular CCTV camera inspections of the sewer system to locate obstructions in the network.

Viaqua deploys teams of operators, trucks and machines to ensure that the elements in the sewer system are at maximum water capacity to safely carry away rainwater during rainy periods.

Cleaning is carried out at night in the city centre so as not to block city traffic or activity during the day.

By the end of the year, the cleaning of 21,501 manholes and 647 km of sewers will have been completed and a total of 10,745 sinks will have been cleaned. Keeping the network in good condition requires public collaboration, so it is advisable not to pour products such as bleach, soap and paint into the rainwater network, as it ends up directly in river channels.