Storm Drainage Systems and Stormwater Management

Common storm drainage problems

Storm systems fail in predictable ways.

• A broken or separated underground storm line leaking water back into the yard
• A storm connection at the property line that is plugged or collapsed
• Downspouts discharging onto the surface because the underground line is gone or never existed
• A catch basin that is silted full and no longer collects water
• An undersized line that cannot handle the volume during a heavy storm

Storm vs. sanitary — why it matters

Storm water and sanitary water are supposed to be kept separate. Storm lines carry rain and groundwater to the storm sewer (and ultimately to waterways); sanitary lines carry waste to the treatment plant. If a downspout or perimeter drain has been connected into a sanitary line — which happened in older homes — it overloads the sanitary system during storms and is something municipalities now require corrected. We can identify cross-connections and correct them.

Stormwater management for larger properties

For commercial and strata properties, stormwater management often means controlling the rate at which water leaves the site — through detention, infiltration, or on-site storage — so the municipal system is not overwhelmed. We install and repair the infrastructure for this, including catch basins, oil/grit separators where required, and detention systems.