A catch basin’s main purpose is to collect excess rain water and ground water from surrounding areas such as parking lots, roofs and paved streets. Over time catch basins are subject to the elements, which entails possible blocks from street debris, organic waste and at times the material the catch basin is constructed of (mainly due to erosion).

If the asphalt surrounding your catch basin is cracked or heaved it is recommended to have it repaired to prevent any further damage or debris from entering your catch basin. In order to prevent a costly repair, getting the problem fixed post haste will save you from waiting for the unfortunate signs of failure.

Your main storm line is your defence against flooding and should be maintained regularly. It cannot be prevented that sand, pieces of asphalt or stones introduce themselves into your storm line but maintenance can prevent the collection and build up of those materials.

Basements are obviously susceptible to flooding. One of the causes of that is if you incurred a blockage in your storm pipe. Sometimes it is a matter of a high water table or negative slope upon your property leading water towards your house. If those two scenarios are apparent and your property is not protected by a functional catch basin then damage to your foundation wall may follow.

Preferably the homeowner should have the catch basin cleaned before fall and then before spring arrives have the reservoir inspected with a camera.

Your first solution for maintenance is to have a pump truck clear the catch basin of any material. The second stage would be to inspect the catch basin with a camera. Following these steps will give you a comfortable idea of the condition of your catch basin and reservoir.

If by any chances your pipe has a crack or shift the homeowner has to repair that problem as soon as possible to avoid any possibility of a flood during rainy day.

Lastly, another recommended solution for cleaning your storm drain is to have the line high pressure jetted. The high pressure jet produces over 1500 psi and will scrub the lines of any debris, clearing any possibility of a blockage, this final step would of course also be followed with a camera inspection.

They’re an important part of preventing floods in and around your property but if you ask many homeowners where the catch basin is, they might not be able to identify this necessary aspect of Toronto plumbing. That said, following are a few words  about the catch basin does and how it can be maintained.

Remember these catch basins are responsible for draining away excessive rainfall from our roads, properties and parks and considering the recent events from Hurricane Sandy, it’s a good idea to understand how to do your part for this essential part of our water services.

First off,  the grates at the top of these basins need to be cleaned out at least once a year to make sure the solids that have collected at the bottom don’t rise to the level of the sewer pipe and get into the water table. With a smaller catch basin on your property you can remove the grate and do the job yourself, but municipalities often have crews that handle this job with vacuum trucks.

Keeping the grates clear is something everyone that lives near one of these catch basins toronto can do and in the Fall that means cleaning away the leaves that can obstruct the opening. Taking a few moments to clear away snow from these grates in the winter is another helpful idea.

The average homeowner knows they need to be sure the roof and eaves on their home are in good working order to prevent any kind of water damage. Most understand the need for solid downspouts and good grading practices so the rain flows away from the house. However, not everyone that owns their own home understands the problem with water that can affect your property can start out at the street. That’s why a good understanding of the catch basin, what it does and how to maintain it is a good idea. Catch basins are there to handle rain water and to direct the flow of it to the proper storm sewers. Whether these are located somewhere on your street or on your property, they need to be kept in good working order all the time. Allowing them to back up could wind up costing you in structural damage to any of the buildings on your property. There are several different ways individuals and communities get involved with cleaning these catch basins. One way is getting together with your community or even having your area bode together with another to buy a vactor truck, which cleans the basins by way of vacuum hoses and tanks. Normally, these trucks can cost anywhere from $125,000 to $150,000.     There are other costs that are better spread out through a neighbourhood or otherwise shared. On the maintenance side, a drop-in catch basin insert can cost anywhere from $70 to $400 while more intricate designs can run up to and over $2000. Maintenance is one of the keys. The vactor trucks mentioned above get rid of the sediment that’s collected under the grates, but keeping these grates clear of debris is important as well. It’s recommended that catch basins be cleaned at least twice a year and the sand and twigs that are commonly removed are often taken to local landfills. You can clean a catch basin yourself when the catch basin is on your property. Remember you need to wear the right protective equipment like rubber gloves and goggles. Start with the grate and remove any leaves and twigs there. Your catch basin might even have a trap where other sediment will collect. You need to clean that as well to prevent any smaller debris from getting into the pipes meant only for water.

Ever wonder where all water goes after a good rain? Sure there’s the gutters on your house that make sure the water doesn’t seep down through the walls and come inside and the drain pipes that carry it away, but what about all the rain that falls in the street?

It’s tempting to wash things down off the end of the driveway into the storm drain but we’re all trying to do our best for the planet these days. That means you can be ecofriendly by being aware of what gets washed toward these drains from your property. Remember everything that goes down them will wind up in our lakes and rivers.