Winter is fast approaching, which means it is time to take care of those last minute outdoor maintenance projects at your commercial or industrial property. Most property owners neglect to have their catch basins cleaned and inspected on a regular basis. This is typically due to the fact that most of us do not give catch basins a second thought. They are just something in the ground that drains water. That being stated, catch basins do perform an incredibly important function.
In essence, they help prevent excessive amounts of rainwater and snowmelt off from flooding the streets, and flooding into buildings. When flooding does occur it can cause a tremendous amount of property damage. It also causes an incredibly negative impact on the environment. It goes without saying that property owners must do their part to ensure that their catch basins are properly maintained on a regular basis.
What Is A Catch Basin?
Catch basins are storm water sewer inlets that have a specific function. Their purpose is to filter out debris such as leaves, trash, and dirt. Catch basins can be located anywhere on the property grounds, but are typically placed next to street curbs, in parking lots, or in the rear yards of commercial and industrial buildings. It is incredibly important to properly maintain your catch basins in order to prevent storm water sewer blockages. Catch basins also significantly reduce the amount of pollutants that enter into the storm sewers.
The storm sewers typically discharge the stormwater into detention basins or directly into streams. When the catch basins become clogged, it can cause water to pool along streets, yards, and parking lots. In the minimum, this type of flooding can be an annoyance to both businesses and motorist alike. In a worst-case scenario, the pools of water will increase to the point that they completely flood the surrounding area. A plethora of business owners are actually unaware that they are responsible to maintain all catch basins that are located on their property.
Catch Basin Maintenance 101
Cleaning and maintaining your catch basins is a dirty job to say the least. The good news is that there are professional companies that specialize in catch basin cleaning and maintenance. This includes removing debris from the catch basin grates. The grates typically become clogged with litter and leaves. This holds especially true in the fall and the spring. That is why it is so important to have the grates inspected on a regular basis. That way the debris can be removed in the proper manner. In addition, catch basins should be cleaned out before the storage area becomes half full.
Once this level is reached, the debris begins to wash into the sewer pipes. A good cleaning should be performed in the late fall after the trees have shed their leaves, and in the spring after the first significant snow melt. It is also a smart idea to have your catch basins inspected throughout the year. That way the catch basin inspection company can determine how much material has accumulated in the storage area, and if they need to be cleared out, or it can wait for a later date.
If you have any questions about catch basin maintenance and cleaning, or would like to schedule service we are happy to help. Jolin Paving & Excavating, Inc. is your New England connection for a vast variety of environmentally related services. Our company has been serving Boston Massachusetts, Southern NH, VT & ME as well as Northern CT & RI since 1952. Please Contact us to learn more today.
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