If you believe a ditch or drainage pipe is clogged, contact the Municipal Services Office at 225-262-5000 or submit request through the app. All requests for blockage removal will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. With the amount of drainage ditches, culverts, canals, and drainage structures that are with in the City of Central, the Public Works Department does not have the resources to clean and clear every ditch in the City every year, but they will always respond to emergency situations. If the issue is maintenance, a work order will be written and provided to public works to schedule crews and equipment to correct the problem. If the issue requires more than routine maintenance, a stormwater engineering plan may be necessary.

Ditch maintenance generally includes the removal of accumulated sediment per original ditch design to maintain the depth and slope required to convey stormwater runoff. Citizens can help maintain a well-functioning drainage system by mowing vegetation in ditches and keeping all debris – including leaves and grass clippings – out of ditches and storm drains.

Keep in mind, it is detrimental to the function of the drainage system to intentionally dump leaves, grass clippings, litter and other debris into ditches. Open ditches with maintained grass are preferred in order to provide erosion protection as well as a natural filtration system. Tree saplings and overgrowth are only removed from ditch banks, by public works crews, when warranted for access due to maintenance needs or if drainage flow is obstructed. Any routine trimming of grass and vegetation in any ditch is the responsibility of the property owner.

Blockages of ditches and pipes are frequent causes of flooding in neighborhoods. If your neighborhood has a piped stormwater system, City crews responding to blockages or performing maintenance may flush sediment from clogged drainage pipes. A wash trailer is used to pump high-pressure water through the pipe. For difficult maintenance needs, other specialized equipment may be used.