Catch Basin Cleaning in Vancouver, WA

A catch basin is the below-grade structure sitting beneath each storm drain grate on your property: a concrete sump with a grate on top, designed to let sediment, sand, and coarse debris settle out of stormwater runoff before the water continues into the connecting drain lines. It's a passive structure with one job, and it does that job well right up until the sump fills. Once sediment reaches the level of the outlet pipe, the basin stops functioning as a trap and starts passing that sediment straight through into your storm drain lines instead.

That distinction matters because it's a different failure mode than a blocked line. Storm drain cleaning addresses the connecting pipes between structures; catch basin cleaning addresses the collection structures themselves, where sediment is supposed to accumulate and periodically needs to be removed. A property with well-functioning lines can still develop downstream problems if the basins feeding them haven't been serviced in years and have already passed their capture capacity.

Catch basin maintenance is also, for many commercial properties, a documented obligation rather than a discretionary one. Municipal NPDES stormwater permit programs commonly require regular inspection and sediment removal from these structures, with records kept on file. The best drain cleaners in Vancouver provide that documentation, sediment depth measurements, service dates, and volume removed, as a standard part of every visit, whether or not your specific property carries a permit requirement.

Vancouver and Clark County both maintain municipal stormwater programs consistent with state Department of Ecology NPDES permit requirements, and commercial properties with significant paved surface area are often subject to inspection and maintenance obligations for on-site stormwater infrastructure, catch basins included. With Clark County averaging about 42 inches of rain a year, concentrated heavily from November through January, a basin serving even a modest parking lot processes a meaningful volume of runoff, and the sediment that comes with it, each wet season.

Properties near mature tree cover, common in older commercial areas around Hazel Dell and Fruit Valley, accumulate leaf litter and organic debris in their basins faster than newer developments with less mature landscaping, which shortens the practical interval between servicing regardless of what a permit technically requires.

Cost depends on the number of basins on the property and whether they're serviced in one combined visit.

Outlet checks and documentation are included standard with every visit. These are planning estimates. The exact price is confirmed once we've assessed the number and condition of the basins on your property.

What exactly is a catch basin?

A below-grade structure with a grate on top, positioned to capture sediment and debris from stormwater runoff before it enters the connecting drain lines, essentially a sediment trap for the storm system.

How is this different from storm drain cleaning?

Storm drain cleaning addresses the connecting pipes between structures. Catch basin cleaning addresses the collection structures themselves, where sediment actually accumulates. Many properties need both on different schedules.

How much does catch basin cleaning cost?

A single basin typically runs $115 to $285. Multiple basins in a combined visit run $80 to $215 per basin. Outlet checks and documentation are included standard.

Is this a regulatory requirement?

Often yes, particularly under municipal NPDES stormwater programs, though specifics vary by property type and jurisdiction. We can discuss what typically applies to properties like yours.

What happens if basins aren't cleaned regularly?

The sump fills, capture capacity drops, and sediment begins passing through to the connecting lines instead of being contained, shifting a manageable maintenance task into a bigger downstream problem.

How do you remove sediment from a catch basin?

Vacuum equipment removes sediment and debris directly from the sump, restoring the basin's full capture capacity in a single visit.

How often should catch basins be cleaned?

It depends on property size, paved surface area, and surrounding vegetation. Typically annually at minimum, more often for higher-sediment properties.

Can you clean multiple basins in one visit?

Yes, and it's typically more cost-effective per basin than scheduling separate visits for each.

Is this covered by a guarantee?

Yes. If a serviced basin shows a workmanship-related issue within the guarantee period, we return and address it at no additional cost.