roots in corrugated drain hose

[peter]

My gutter downspouts are connected to storm drain by in-soil 4-inch corrugated hoses. One of these hose has small tree roots in it about 5 feet into the opening. The hose curves towards horizontal so it is not direct line of sight; I snake in a bullet cam to see it.

It still drains water, but if I stick a garden hose in it and turn on water full throttle, it backups and overflows after some 10 seconds or so, which seems to imply there are more tree roots down deeper into the hose (it takes less than 10 sec to overflow 5 feet of hose).

I can tolerate the current drain rate since rain water is not sufficient to overflow the hose. But how do I prevent it from getting worse?

There are some bushes and a douglas fir within 8 feet of the hose opening. I don't know whose root it is.

[hallerb]

mix rock salt in hot water so salt dissolves easily and put down drain line.

where does the line go?

out to a surface outlet or to a dry well or something?

[yellowbirddog]

The first downpour will cause it to overflow much faster than what a garden hose can do. Bite the bullet and install some solid, and perhaps thicker walled, smooth drain pipe that roots cannot penetrate, and have the line drain either to daylight or a pop-up emitter in safe area.

If you use a pop-up emitter, be sure it has seepage holes at the lowest (end) point where leftover water can drain into gravel surrounded by geotextile fabric to keep dirt out. You don't want water left in pipes that can freeze.

[Joseph Meehan]

Once those roots find a source of water, they don't forget. Best bet is to replace the whole thing with a solid totally waterproof pipe. Any leak, no matter how small, will attract new roots. No leak and the roots will leave it alone.

[hallerb]

our main sewer line has roots, used to cause snaking bill regurally.

rock salt kills the roots doesnt harm the trees, and keeps the pipe draining well.

over notice how rocksalt kills grass?

same idea:)

[peter]

goes to storm drain (presumably to a lake or river somewhere).