Catch Basin Pumping, Storm Drain Cleaning
& Emergency Flood Control Services
Protect your property from flooding. We clear blocked storm drains & pump out backups, flooded basements, parking lots, & more! From Chilliwack to Squamish.
Don’t wait for a flood to think about your drainage system! Clogged catch basins are a common cause of parking lot flooding and property water damage in the Lower Mainland. Clearset VAC Truck Services provides fast, reliable vacuum pumping to remove the sludge, debris, and trash that settle at the bottom of your drains. Whether you manage a commercial strata, a construction site, or a residential property, we ensure your stormwater flows freely.
What Our Customers Say About Clearset VAC Truck Services
Storm Drain Cleaning for Flood Prevention
A neglected storm drain is a liability. Over time, the sump at the bottom of your basin fills with heavy sediment that rainwater cannot flush away naturally. Once this sediment reaches the outlet pipe, the system fails, leading to standing water, asphalt erosion, and potential basement flooding.
Regular vacuum pumping and hydro flushing services are the only way to effectively remove this dense sludge. Our team creates a maintenance schedule that keeps your capacity high and your risk low, ensuring that when the heavy BC rains hit, your property is ready to handle the volume.
Commercial & High-Risk Areas We Service
We provide specialized catch basin pumping for all commercial and residential customers, including high-traffic and high-risk facilities across the Lower Mainland like:
- Underground Parkades: Low-clearance trucks available for tight parking garage entries.
- Strata & Condo Complexes: Scheduled maintenance for multi-unit residential catch basins.
- Loading Docks & Bays: Removal of industrial debris, pallets, and shipping waste that block flow.
- Restaurant Parking Lots: Treatment of grease-laden runoff that solidifies in storm lines.
- Warehouses & Industrial Yards: Heavy silt and gravel extraction for sites with unpaved surfaces.
- Car Washes: Regular sump pump-outs to handle high-volume grit and chemical runoff.
Common Causes of Catch Basin Clogs & Overflowing Storm Drains
When the rain or storm starts to hit or the snow starts melting, even with a grate in place, fine materials and heavy runoff will eventually fill the catch basin sump. This includes the following:
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Branches & Leaves: Common during the fall or severe storms. Wet leaves and mulch turn into a thick paste that mats together and blocks outlet pipes.
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Dirt & Road Sediment: Because drains sit at the lowest ground level, high-traffic areas fill them with sand and silt. This settles at the bottom and hardens like concrete.
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Trash & Plastic Bags: Lightweight garbage flows in with rainwater. Plastic bags are a major culprit as they wrap around the pipe, creating an instant seal.
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Construction Debris: Cement, mortar, and stones from renovations wash into the basin. These heavy materials solidify in the sump and require professional extraction.
If you are experiencing recurring backups with no visible debris, we can perform a sewer camera inspection to locate hidden roots or collapses deep within your storm drain lines.
When to Schedule Storm Drain Maintenance or a Catch Basin Pump Out
We recommend a professional pump-out at least once a year, ideally in late autumn before the ground freezes or early spring to clear winter grit.
However, if you, or a neighbour, regularly dump water into your storm drains, you need to schedule a more frequent catch basin cleaning.
Call us immediately if you notice:
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Water pooling around the grate even during light rain.
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Foul odors (sewage or rotting smells) coming from the drain.
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Visible debris filling the catch basin up to the outlet pipe.
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Sinkholes or depression forming in the asphalt near the basin.
Catch Basin Cleaning Pricing
Our storm drain and catch basin cleaning prices start at $388 throughout Port Coquitlam and surrounding Greater Vancouver and BC neighbourhoods. Contact us for a free personalized quote!
How the Stormwater Catch Basin System Works
A catch basin drains all the excess water from the rain, storm, melted snow, etc. off of the streets transporting it to a treatment facility, sump, or reservoir. A stormwater catch basin is typically located on the side of the streets around residential, commercial, and public establishments and properties with a grate covering.
When it rains or the snow starts to melt, the water needs to go somewhere or flooding will start to happen. The catch basin will be the one responsible for collecting water and transferring them to the necessary facilities. While the grate covering will filter out any solid materials that can clog the pipes and separate the water or liquid. The filtered water will then flow into another rainwater reservoir, sump, or the local water treatment area.
What Is Storm Drain – Catch Basin Cleaning And Why Is It Important?
The catch basin is designed to help direct and catch all the excess water from rain, storm, or melted snow. They are very important in water management. When your storm drain starts to get clogged, it will not be able to do its purpose leading to the water coming back up and flooding might happen.
Clearset recommends inspecting your catch basins regularly. You can remove all the solid materials that are caught in the runoff grate to prevent any clogging yourself.
A professional catch basin cleaning service is the cost-effective and convenient way to remove all the blockages in and out of your storm drain. Dirt, cement, mortar, and small stones tend to pass through the grate but they will block your pipes which are impossible to remove yourself without the right equipment and tools. Having your storm drain cleaning service is still necessary to remove all these blockages completely.
Choose A Friendly, Quick, And Affordable
Catch Basin Cleaning Service Like Clearset.
Right Equipment
Here at Clearset, we have the right equipment and tools to expertly and quickly remove blockages in your sewage pipe systems as well as septic tank, lift stations, and catch basin cleaning.
Well-Trained Staff
You can easily clean the runoff grate by hand, however accessing inside and properly cleaning your catch basin will require specialized equipment. Clogging doesn’t only happen on the exterior of your storm drain; there can be calcified materials stuck in your pipes. This is where you can benefit from the knowledgeable and well-trained staff at Clearset, to properly service your system right, the first time.
Save time, effort, and money
Working with Clearset is a breeze. Our thorough yet efficient staff and equipment keeps costs down, saving you (the customer) money! We are fully insured and our staff comes prepared with all tools and safety gear needed, leave the heavy lifting to us!
Exceptional Service
Clearset Vac Truck Services is your fast, friendly, and professional choice for all your catch basin cleaning services needs. Same day service and 24/hr emergency dispatch available
Frequently Asked Questions About Storm Drains & Catch Basins (FAQs)
How often should catch basins be cleaned?
For most residential properties, once a year is sufficient. Commercial properties or areas with heavy tree cover should aim for twice a year (Spring and Fall).
When is the best time to clean catch basins in British Columbia?
Due to our heavy rainfall, we recommend scheduling service in late October (before the heavy rains) to remove falling leaves, and again in early Spring to remove the winter road salt and traction sand that accumulates at the bottom of the basin.
Can I clean the catch basin myself?
You can clear leaves off the grate, but you should never attempt to clean the inside of the basin. The sludge at the bottom is heavy, potentially toxic, and requires legal disposal at a treatment plant. It is illegal to dump this waste into other drains or on the ground.
Is the City responsible for cleaning my storm drain?
If the catch basin is located on a public street or sidewalk, it is usually the municipality’s responsibility. However, if the drain is located on private property (such as a driveway, strata parking lot, or commercial loading dock), the property owner is legally responsible for maintenance and preventing runoff pollution.
What is the best way to clean a catch basin?
Professional catch basin cleaning utilizes a vacuum truck (vactor service) to extract standing water, sludge, and heavy debris from the sump. High-pressure water jetting is then used to scour the outlet lines and ensure proper flow.
Do I need to be home during a storm drain cleaning?
Usually, no. As long as our truck can access the catch basin (no cars parked over the grate) and we have permission to enter the property, we can complete the job.
What is the difference between a catch basin and a storm drain?
The catch basin is the box in the ground with the grate on top that traps sediment. The storm drain is the network of pipes that carries the water away. We clean the basin to prevent the sediment from entering and clogging the storm drain pipes.
Do you clean the storm drain pipes or just the catch basin?
We do both. While our standard service focuses on pumping out the catch basin (the sump box), we also offer Hydro Jetting and Line Flushing. If your outage pipe is clogged with roots or hard debris, we use high-pressure water jets to scour the lines and restore flow to the municipal connection.
Why is there standing water in the catch basin?
A catch basin is designed to hold a small amount of water in the sump (the bottom pit) to trap sediment and prevent sewer gases from escaping. However, water rising above the outlet pipe indicates a blockage downstream that requires immediate attention.
For All Your Catch Basin Cleaning Needs, Contact Clearset Any Time Of The Day!
Clearset is always ready to answer your questions, provide options for your storm drain cleaning services, and schedule your catch basin cleaning. Our friendly staff is always available, 24/7.
If you get in touch with us today, you will receive a FREE estimate!