Dennis Diffley Drain Services (401) 737-0560


water dropWe are the Catch Basin Cleaning Experts


Understanding your Catch Basin...


A catch basin, is a storm drain system designed to remove excess rain and ground water from paved streets parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems. It has a drain inlet which is an opening to the storm drain system that typically includes a grate or curb inlet located in and around most parking lots or private street entrances where storm water enters the catch basin and a sump* captures sediment, debris and associated pollutants. ( A sump is a low space that collects any often-undesirable liquids such as water or chemicals. )


Catch basins are designed to prevent sand and floatable materials from entering the outgoing drainage system. This is accomplished in the catch basin by capturing the debris and separating it. It allows sediments to fall and settle in the bottom of the basins while the floatable objects rise to the surface of the water. The storm water enters through the submerged elbow- baffle outlet pipe. This submerged baffle thereby acts to prevent the entrance of any surface floatable object from entering the outgoing lines so that it does not cause a blockage in the storm drain system, or pollutant debris from entering into a water way.


water dropHow we clean your catch basins

catch basin truckCatch basin cleaning involves the removal of the build up of sand, leaves, and other debris items such as branches, and paper that have accumulated in the sump. Over a period of time these items will block the baffle that keeps the debris out of the storm line and will overflow causing flooding and allow a build up of dirt and debris to enter the outgoing lines. The best way to clean catch basins is with the use of a hydraulic clamshell bucket that is lowered into the catch basin. It then hydraulically grabs the dirt and debris, like a hand making a fist, and then it is raised up and unloaded into its attached dump truck for disposal. Using the hydraulic clamshell and dump truck is better than other methods to clean your catch basins because it is designed to remove those hard to handle items like heavy rocks, wood, branches, and clay deposits that most vacuum trucks have a hard time handling. Here are some other benefits of using the clamshell pick up system.

Therefore it is the most efficient and cost-effective way to properly clear debris from your catch basins.


We also perform additional maintenance work if requested, such as  repair of a collapsed catch basin, or repairing any part of the catch basin’s brickwork, its baffle trap, or cover.


water dropThe Importance of Catch Basin Maintenance

clogged catch basin

It is important to maintain catch basins to prevent storm sewer blockages and minimize the amount of pollutants entering storm sewers which may eventually discharge into local streams and waterways. Clogged catch basins can also result in the puddling of water along streets and parking lots causing an inconvenience to drivers, people and businesses.


Typical maintenance of a catch basin includes the removal of trash and sediments collected in the sump using a catch basin cleaner with a clamshell bucket and dump truck. Additional general maintenance activities are performed whenever necessary including repairs to the catch basin’s brickwork, frames, covers, and baffles/traps.


Temporary parking restrictions may apply during catch basin cleaning operations whenever parking conditions obstruct access to a catch basin for cleaning or maintenance repairs and generally will affect one car length on each side of the basin. . Wherever practical, catch basin cleaning is scheduled to coincide with low volme parking or non-business days for companies.


water dropRegular Maintenance is Suggested to Prevent Flooding


flooded lotRegular maintenance of catch basins and inlets is necessary to ensure they are functioning properly.Catch basins are storm structures designed to retain sediment by trapping this material in a sump below the invert of the outlet pipe. Catch basins must be cleaned to maintain their ability to trap sediment, and consequently, their ability to prevent flooding. The benefits of catch basin cleaning also include the removal of pollutant loads from the storm sewer system and the reduction of high pollutant concentrations during the "first flush" of a storm event.

After your drains become more than 1/3 full(bottom of basin to bottom of outlet pipe), their capacity for settlement of the debris is eliminated,resulting in the debris flowing into the outlet pipe, which then clogs your drainage system down stream and washes dirt, debris and possible pollutants into our clean waterways. Therefore regular maintenance of catch basins and inlets is necessary to ensure they are functioning properly. Individual basin cleaning is the first step in the chain to maintaining a functioning drainage system.

Dennis Diffley & Sons Inc. can provide you with a regular Preventative Maintenance Program designed to fit your particular needs, in order to keep your drainage system flowing regular.


water dropHow to Prevent Catch Basin overflowing


To help prevent catch basin blockage and flooding avoid excessive accumulation of leaves, dirt, sticks, rocks, trash, and similar debris should not be allowed to go into catch basins as these materials cause blockage and damage to lines.

Also by keeping catch basin grates clear of snow, ice, leaves, and debris, can help keep the area from the problems assiociated with flooding.It is generally recommended to develop and implement a program to evaluate and, if necessary, clean catch basins and other storm water structures that accumulate sediment at least one time per year. Some communities clean once every two years.
It is also recommended that cleaning be done before basins are half full to maintain the sump capacity. Structures that accumulate more debris may need more frequent cleaning. Fall is a good time to clean catch basins after leaves have fallen and before the first snowfall. Another good time to clean catch basins is in the spring to remove the buildup of leaves, dirt, and other debris that accumulated during the winter months. Areas that contribute to higher pollutant loadings or discharge to surface waters should be cleaned more frequently.


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Dennis Diffley & Sons Inc.

2650 Warwick Ave Warwick, R.I. 02889





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