Catch basin questions, answered
What exactly is a catch basin?
It's the drain structure beneath the grate in your parking lot or roadway. Below the outlet pipe there's a sump designed to trap sediment, sand, and debris before they reach the storm line. That sump is what fills up and needs cleaning.
How often should catch basins be cleaned in Rochester?
Once or twice a year for most commercial properties — clean before the sump is more than half full. Around here that usually means spring, after winter sand and salt wash in, and late fall after leaf drop. Industrial properties with truck traffic often need three visits.
What does catch basin cleaning cost?
It's priced per structure, and cost per basin falls steeply with the number on the property, since mobilizing the truck is the expensive part. Send the address and we'll count them from the aerial view and quote it free.
Why does my parking lot pond after every rain?
Usually a full sump, a blocked grate, or a packed outlet line — all inexpensive to fix. Occasionally it's settled pavement, which is a grading problem. We check the cheap causes first and tell you honestly if it turns out to be the expensive one.
Who is responsible for catch basins on private property?
The property owner. Municipalities maintain structures in the public right-of-way, not the ones inside your parking lot. Commercial leases often pass the cost to tenants through CAM charges, but the system itself remains ownership's responsibility.
Do you clean the pipes between basins too?
Yes. We jet and vacuum storm lines, clear root intrusion, and flush culverts and outfalls. Everything a full catch basin fails to catch ends up in the line, so the two jobs often go together.
Do you provide documentation?
Every service comes with a written record of what was cleaned and what we found. Full inspections add measured sediment depths, photos, structural notes, and basin mapping.
Can you handle several properties at once?
Yes, and it's the most economical way to buy this service. We put a portfolio on one seasonal schedule with a single point of contact and one invoice.
Is winter a bad time to clean catch basins?
Generally yes — frozen sumps are hard to fully evacuate. Late fall is the better booking. We'll still come out for active flooding in winter, but plan the thorough cleaning for spring or fall.
What areas do you serve?
Rochester and Monroe County — including Greece, Henrietta, Webster, Penfield, Irondequoit, Brighton, Gates, and Chili.