Catch Basin Installation, Cleaning and Repair
A catch basin is the grated inlet that collects surface water from a driveway, parking area, or low spot and lets it drop into a sump below, where sediment settles out before the water continues into the storm line. They are simple devices, but when they are not installed correctly, not cleaned, or connected to a line that has failed, they stop working and the surface they are meant to drain floods. We install, clean, and repair catch basins for residential driveways, strata parking, and commercial sites.
When a catch basin is the right solution
A catch basin is the right tool when you have a defined area of surface water that needs to be collected and carried underground — a driveway that slopes to a puddle, a parking stall that floods, a patio or walkway with a low point. For water moving through soil or across a broad area, a French drain is usually a better fit. We assess the surface and the flow before recommending either.
Why catch basins stop working
The most common failure is simple: the sump below the grate fills with sediment, leaves, and debris until there is no room for water to collect, and the basin overflows instead of draining. The second most common is a blocked or broken outlet pipe — the basin collects water but cannot send it anywhere. Both are fixable, and the first step is opening the grate and inspecting the sump and the outlet.
Catch basin cleaning and maintenance
For driveways and residential properties, a catch basin usually needs cleaning every year or two — more if it is under trees. For commercial and strata parking areas, a regular cleaning schedule prevents the flooding and ice that result from a full basin. We clean the sump, clear the outlet, and check that the grate and frame are sound.
Catch Basins — common questions
Request Drainage Service
Tell us what is happening and where. We will call you back the same business day to discuss the problem and arrange an inspection if needed.