Let’s Stop Throwing Trash in Drainage Channels As We Head To the Rainy Season.
The rainy season is approaching, bringing heavy rainfall almost every
day. Rain is a blessing that nourishes crops, trees, and water sources, helping
farmers and sustaining communities. However, it can also create serious
challenges if we are not prepared. One of the biggest problems is flooding,
which happens when drainage channels are blocked with trash and plastics. When
water cannot flow freely, it overflows into homes, roads, and markets, causing
damage to property, disrupting daily life, and sometimes endangering lives. The
good news is that flooding is preventable if we all take responsibility. By
keeping our surroundings clean, clearing drainage channels, disposing of waste
properly, and joining in community clean-up activities, we can reduce the risk
of floods. Flooding is not just a government issue but a community concern that
affects everyone. If we work together and act early, the rainy season will
remain a season of blessing rather than disaster.
Many people throw rubbish into drainage channels without thinking about
what will happen later. They throw plastic bottles, food waste, old clothes,
and other garbage into the drains. Sometimes they do this because there are no
dustbins nearby. Other times, they do it because they think the rain will wash
it away. But this is not true. When we dump trash into drainage channels, it
blocks the water from flowing. The water then spills onto roads, into homes,
and even into schools and shops. This causes flooding, and flooding affects
everyone.
When roads are flooded, cars and motorcycles cannot move. People cannot
go to work, children cannot go to school, and businesses lose money. Sometimes,
ambulances and fire trucks cannot reach people who need help. Flooding also
damages houses. Water enters homes and ruins furniture, clothes, and
electronics. Families are forced to sleep in wet rooms or move to other places.
In some cases, people lose everything they own. Flooding also brings diseases.
Dirty water mixes with sewage and spreads germs. People get sick with cholera,
typhoid, and other illnesses. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and cause
malaria. All of this can be avoided if we stop dumping trash in drainage
channels.
We all have a role to play; first, we must stop throwing rubbish into
drains. Instead, we should use dustbins and make sure our trash is collected
properly. If there are no dustbins in your area, talk to your local leaders and
ask for help. Second, we should clean the drainage channels before the rains
begin. Communities can organize clean-up days where everyone helps to remove
trash from the drains. This is a good way to work together and protect our
homes. Third, we should teach others about the dangers of dumping trash in
drains. Talk to your neighbors, your children, and your friends. Let them know
that clean drains mean safe roads and healthy homes.
Local leaders and government officials also have a big role to play.
They should provide enough dustbins in public places and make sure garbage is
collected regularly. They should also punish people who dump trash in drains.
If people know there are consequences, they will think twice before doing it.
Leaders should also support community clean-up efforts and provide tools like
gloves, rakes, and wheelbarrows. When leaders and citizens work together, we
can make a big difference.
Some people may casually say, “It’s not my problem,” or dismissively think, “One bottle won’t cause flooding,” but this way of thinking is misleading and dangerous because every single piece of trash, no matter how small, contributes to the bigger problem. A plastic bottle here, a polythene bag there over time these items accumulate and clog our drainage systems, and when everyone adopts the attitude of throwing “just one item,” the drains quickly become overwhelmed, leaving water with no place to go. The reality is that flooding does not discriminate; it does not choose who to affect or whose property to damage, as it can sweep into the homes of both the rich and the poor, disrupt the lives of the young and the old, and destroy businesses, livelihoods, and communities alike. What seems like a minor act of carelessness can end up causing widespread suffering, and that is why we must all take responsibility, not just as individuals but as a society. Keeping our drainage channels clean is more than an effort to avoid floods it is a commitment to safeguarding our families, protecting our businesses, and securing our shared future, because a clean environment is a safer environment, and when we work together to maintain it, we are also building resilience, unity, and hope for generations to come.
Let us not wait until the rain starts falling and the water is rising, because by then it is often too late to prevent the damage. The time to act is now, when we still have the chance to make a real difference in our communities. Take a moment to look around your area are the drains clean and free of blockage? Is there trash lying nearby that could easily be swept into the water channels once the rains begin? These are simple but important questions that each of us must ask ourselves. Beyond personal effort, think about whether you can talk to your neighbors and organize a collective clean-up, since working together makes the task easier and more effective. You can also speak to your local leaders, ask for their support, and encourage them to take responsibility in ensuring proper waste management and drainage maintenance. These small, practical actions may seem ordinary, but they have the power to save lives, protect homes, and prevent unnecessary suffering. The rainy season does not have to be a time of fear, displacement, and destruction; instead, it can become a season of growth, renewal, and hope if we prepare properly and treat our environment with the care it deserves.
So today, let us make a promise. Let us promise to stop dumping trash in drainage channels. Let us promise to keep our roads, homes, and schools.
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