Guide · Desilting
Drain desilting proof of work: how to know the drain was really cleaned.
“The register says the drain was cleaned. The water says otherwise.” Claimed work turns every flood into an argument.
Why registers fail
- Work is recorded as length cleaned, not as segments verified.
- Nobody can check a claim after the silt is removed.
- Photos, when taken, are not tied to a location or date.
- Payments are made on claims, disputes come after floods.
A proof-of-work method
- Split the network into numbered drain segments on a map.
- Assign each segment to a crew or contractor with a due date.
- Require a geotagged, time-stamped photo before work starts.
- Require a geotagged, time-stamped photo after work is done.
- Close the segment only when both photos match its location.
- Show completion by ward so gaps are visible before the rain.
What to keep per segment
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Segment ID and ward | Where the work is |
| Owner and due date | Who is responsible, by when |
| Before photo with GPS and time | Condition at the start |
| After photo with GPS and time | Proof of completion |
| Status | Pending, in progress, proven |
How CityWatch does it
CityWatch puts rain gauges, channel levels, pump telemetry, citizen complaints and crews on one live map for municipal commissioners, city engineers and ward officers. When rain rate and channel trend cross a threshold, it proposes an alert with the wards at risk. Pumps are shown as running, offline or “no telemetry”, never assumed. Complaints on WhatsApp, the helpline or the web become tickets located to the drain segment, with duplicates grouped; the nearest crew with the right equipment is routed and the citizen gets the ETA and a closing photo. Desilting is closed with geotagged before/after photos per drain segment, every ward is ranked, any event can be replayed minute by minute, and the daily report is drafted from the record with sources.
Questions
How can a city verify drain desilting work?
Split drains into mapped segments and close each one only with geotagged, time-stamped before and after photos taken at that segment.
Why are desilting registers unreliable?
They record claimed length rather than verified segments, and the claim cannot be checked once the silt is gone.
See it on your own data. CityWatch — Warn before the street floods. Book a 30-minute working session with an engineer.