Their main purpose is to ensure that surface water can drain away smoothly, but also to prevent everything that gets washed down the streets during rain from ending up in the sewer system: these are known as catch basins. Since early May, 14 of these have been repaired or replaced along the Rhine corridor between Obere Austraße (Rheinallee, Schott entrance) and the beginning of Wormser Straße, because they are either aging or have been damaged, for example, by tree roots. The result: During heavy rain, the water no longer drains away, accumulating on the street or finding other paths.
The company commissioned by Wirtschaftsbetrieb Mainz estimates—depending on the type of damage—that it will take three to seven days per catch basin, meaning the entire project will take several months in total. During this time, traffic must be rerouted around the respective catch basin where work is currently underway.