Tag Archives: Catch basin cleaning White Rock

Catch Basin 101: Know Your Responsibilities

At Edenflo, we’ve always taken great pride in educating our customer base about the importance of catch basin cleaning. We think it’s important for property owners/waste generators to understand their role and responsibilities in the process.

That’s why, when we came upon an informative and entertaining video developed by the Capital Regional District (CRD), we simply had to share it! The CRD is the regional government for 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the nearby Gulf Islands. The CRD provides regional decision-making on issues that transcend municipal boundaries, and they also develop partnerships to facilitate and deliver projects and services that benefit the region as a whole.

Their mandate is to serve the public and build a vibrant, livable, and sustainable region, so they were more than happy to give us permission to use their video in today’s blog. In addition to the video, their brief article on catch basin maintenance provides all the information you need to be a responsible catch basin owner.

If you’re in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, Edenflo has preventative maintenance programs that can help you to manage your catch basin responsibly and seamlessly; contact us today for more information.

Catch Basins and When to Clean Them

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A catch basin is something that’s very easy for a busy person to ignore. Catch basins are also known as “storm drains” and are responsible for diverting excess water run-off into proper drainage channels. When they work properly, they help prevent flooding and oversaturation of critical drain fields and homes.

How often you clean your catch basin depends on the purpose that it serves. In BC, many places have catch basins that are connected to sump pumps due to the area’s moist climate and high rates of precipitation. You’ll find BC septic tank cleaning services also come with offers to clean catch basins. Companies such as Edenflo can provide both types of services.

Catch basins shouldn’t be used as dumps for yard clippings or other natural waste. They can not only back up if clogged, but over time, the walls of the basins get caked with debris and their ability to drain run-off is reduced. If the basin is connected to a sump pump, the waste can clog and break the pump itself, which can leave your home flooded during wet weather.

A catch basin should be cleaned every five years if you are not using your sump pump often. If your sump runs frequently, the basin should be cleaned annually and the sump pump should be inspected. You can schedule this service along with septic tank cleaning and maintenance.

Clogged catch basins may require additional remediation. Edenflo can provide this service. The standard remedy for cleaning a clogged catch basin is called hydro excavation. Pressurized water is literally used to excavate the debris out of the basin. The debris is captured with a vacuum on a pump truck.

Preventative maintenance of catch basins is as simple as controlling what debris goes into them and having the basins cleaned on an annual basis. Doing these two things will enable you to avoid most issues with catch basins.

Time for Spring Cleaning – Book your Catch Basin Cleaning

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After any significant storm, it is always a good time for spring cleaning to ensure that the catch basin is free of debris and accumulated dirt. More than just a preventative measure, normal cleanings can ensure that the catch basin is flowing freely, and working properly.

A storm drain, or catch basin, in every neighborhood provides proper drainage of excess water that accumulates after a storm, or from melting snow. Many of the catch basins all across British Columbia experience high flooding throughout the year. It is imperative to remove debris and sediment that has built up and accumulated in the catch basins. Any debris that is left on the surface grates or catch basins will eventually decompose. The rotting solids will make their way into the waterways and can significantly reduce the levels of dissolved oxygen which would increase levels of bacteria in the water.

Remove Harmful Solids
Alternatively, by utilizing vacuum pumps and other devices, the equipment can loosen away all compacted material and remove the solids from the basin. In some areas, this spring cleaning process should be performed frequently as a way to eliminate any blocking of the system which could cause neighborhoods to flood.

Routine basin maintenance is essential because debris, sediment, leaves, trash, chemicals and other harmful pollutants can so easily enter the storm drains. By removing the debris quickly, the removal process can eliminate the potential of the harmful pollutants that could make their way into the beautiful streams, rivers and lakes of British Columbia.

Ideally, it is highly recommended to create and implement an effective catch basin maintenance schedule to ensure that storm water structures and catch basins are flowing freely. To maintain an effective sump capacity, it is recommended that the basin be cleaned before they are half-full or when quickly filling up with dirt, leaves and other debris after the winter months. This can significantly reduce higher pollutant loads and harmful discharges to the area surface waters.