Have you ever wondered how catch basins are maintained? If you’re not familiar with that technical name, they’re the grates that you see along street corners acting as a basin in catching storm water. In the basin, sediment, debris, and pollutants are caught so that they don’t end up clogging downstream pipes that eventually end up in natural waters.
Taking care of them requires some level of expertise, despite some people attempting to do it on their own. But you can ultimately do your part in keeping certain pollutants from getting into the basin in the first place.
General Cleaning of Catch Basins
These basins have to be cleaned periodically when sediment and old debris sit in the basin for a long time. Sometimes they’re required by law to be cleaned. Ultimately, if they don’t get clean, it could lead to pollutants finding their way into the receiving water down the line. While cleaning can sometimes be done on your own, you’re better off calling a professional who can remove the grate and use proper equipment to clean out the sediment.
A bucket is generally used to scoop water out if the debris is causing a clog. In the rare cases where you see someone manually taking the sediment out with a shovel, wearing gloves is going to be mandatory.
EPA Standards and Water/Sediment Disposal
The Environmental Protection Agency already requires that catch basins be cleaned if the debris reaches one-third the depth of the basin. That’s why cleaning the catch basins as often as possible is a good idea so it doesn’t become overwhelming when overflow occurs. However, every time it’s cleaned, there has to be consideration where to dispose of the water and the sediment.
In the case of the water, it’s best to just dump it into a sanitary sewer like a sink or your toilet. Any solids in the water should be set aside in the bucket and be thrown away once they dry out.
As for the sediment, disposal is going to depend on how many pollutants may be in there. Sometimes catch basins designed for storing hazardous waste can be used. This is one reason why a professional should be hired so they’ll know exactly how to dispose of it if you’re not sure yourself.
Ways to Prevent Debris from Entering the Catch Basin
You can do some things yourself around your residential or commercial property to keep debris out of the basin. Regularly sweeping up debris off walkways is a preventative, as well as avoiding washing vehicles near the sewer system. Outlet traps can also be bought that help trap pollutants clogging up the basin.
While some things can be done on your own, you’re much better off having a professional do the cleaning. This is especially the case if it involves having to crawl inside the basin for certain reasons. We can do all of the cleaning for you here at Vactone Environmental Services.
Contact us if you have a clogged catch basin in the Worcester or Boston, Massachusetts area. We have specialized equipment called Vactor units that clean out basins efficiently without causing damage.