Catch Basin Maintenance
Posted on Tue, Apr 20, 2010 @ 12:49 PM
Dave Williamson, Industrial Account Manager
Most industrial companies have a routine schedule for cleaning all oil/water separators but often forgotten is the maintenance on catch basins. A catch basin is a part of a storm drain or sewer system which is designed to trap debris so that it cannot enter the drainage pipes. Most municipal sewer and storm drainage systems use catch basins, and the design is basically the same all over the world, with a few small variations.
Catch basins have a wide sloping inlet which collects runoff, assuring that even when high volumes of water are being dumped into the system, there is minimal overflow. The inlet opens to a pipe which is covered with a grating. The grating traps large debris, preventing it from entering the piping. As water floods the catch basin, small particles which slip through the grate settle to the bottom. Drainage pipes are located above the bottom of this vertical pipe, ensuring that the water which flows into the drains is clear of sediment.
If the catch basin is not maintained, eventually the debris rises to the level of the outlet pipe which sends debris and sediment into the storm water system. It is generally recommended the catch basins are serviced annually to avoid any potential environmental issues. Most catch basins can be clean from surface level utilizing a Vactor Truck equipped with hard pipe to remove the debris and sediment. Surface level pressure washing may also be required. Please contact Triumvirate to set up a routine maintenance schedule.