Munich drainage service asks residents to clear autumn leaves from street drains

Munich's municipal drainage service, the Münchner Stadtentwässerung (MSE), is asking residents across the city to remove autumn leaves properly from the kerbs and street drains outside their properties, warning that blocked drains can lead to flooded streets.

The appeal is aimed at residents as well as the property management companies and caretaker services responsible for buildings. Outside the area fully covered by the city's street cleaning service, owners whose land borders public ground are required to arrange the cleaning themselves.

According to the MSE, leaves are often simply swept to the edge of the road and into the drains, which causes them to block. Rainwater then builds up, which can lead to flooding and large pools of standing water on the streets. Wet feet and spray from passing vehicles are, the MSE says, the least of the consequences of drains that have not been cleared properly.

The MSE's sewer operations team has recently had to send out its suction vehicles repeatedly because of drain gullies that had become blocked unnecessarily. The service says this takes up valuable time that is then lost for dealing with other technical faults.

The MSE has thanked all residents who, in line with the city's street cleaning and safety regulations, help to keep the rainwater drains outside their properties free of autumn leaves and other debris for the benefit of everyone. Further information is available at www.muenchen.de/mse and www.muenchen.de/strassenreinigung.