Catch Basin Cleaning

Doetsch Environmental Services maintains a fleet of vacuum trucks capable of properly cleaning catch basins.  These trucks are not only capable of vacuuming the catch basin but they are able to clean the adjoining sewers as necessary.

When having a catch basin cleaned it is vital to understand why your catch basin needed cleaning.  Catch basin cleaning is vital in maintaining the flow of surface water into the storm system to keep your property clear and free of standing water. It is also the job of the catch basin to capture sediment, leaves, contaminants, debris and pretty much anything else anyone chooses to drop on the ground while at the same time directing your rain run-off away from your property.

When functioning properly, sediment is trapped in a sump below the invert of the outlet pipe.  If catch basins are not properly maintained, sediment level rises above the outlet pipe restricting the water from flowing downstream. When this happens, the water will have no where to flow but up and back onto your parking lot or property.

When the outlet is located in the bottom of the catch basin or when the outlet is not properly trapped, debris tends to float downstream and become lodged at some point within the sewer.  Once this happens it will become necessary to not only have the catch basin cleaned, but to also have the sewer jetted using high pressure water.

When a catch basin is not properly maintained, it can lead to many future and costly problems.  Continuous overflow within your property can cause damage to your parking lots integrity (i.e. black top or concrete erosion), can puddle enough to drain into your building / home or force prospective customers to take their business elsewhere because no one likes to park in a lake.

In addition to the visible issues, surcharged catch basins can wreak havoc on your underground infrastructure.  Material caught in the sewer can begin to cause joint separation which can eventually lead to sinkholes.  If the soil begins to wash into the sewer through exposed holes in the joint, a collapse could occur.  Or you could begin to have tree roots take over your sewer system which would lead to more costly back ups.

Maintenance on your catch basins will depend on how much material flows into your catch basin, the depth of your catch basin and the location of your outlet.  Many catch basins are built with the outlet on the base of the catch basin instead of being suspended within the catch basin its’ self, as demonstrated in the illustration.  When this happens, the sewer tends to become clogged more often with debris that would either sink to the bottom of the sump or material that would float above the outlet trap.

While issues like this will not develop overnight, they will over time.  If you are beginning to experience any of the issues above, now may be the time to preserve your property and have the catch basins cleaned.