All Storm Drains Inc. | Storm Water Management, Long Island, NY PHONE: 516.825.1010

  What Are Storm Water Drainage Best Practices? Best management practices are physical, structural, and managerial practices that prevent or reduce the contamination of a drain. The proper design and siting of a storm water drainage well minimizes the likelihood of accidental or routine contamination resulting from either poor operational practices or misuse.  There are five general categories for storm water drainage well best practices that can be implemented alone or in combination.  The five general categories relate to:  Siting  Design Operation & Maintenance Education & Outreach Proper Closure (plugging and abandonment)  The appropriateness and effectiveness of best management practices vary according to the type, design, setting, and operation of the well. Consult  All Storm Drains Inc.  for more information. Why Does The EPA Regulate Storm Water Drainage Wells? The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that EPA protect USDWs ...

  Drainage System Maintenance As a consequence of its function, the storm water conveyance system collects and transports urban runoff that may contain certain pollutants. Maintaining  Catch Basins , storm water inlets , and other storm water conveyance structures on a regular basis will remove pollutants, prevent clogging of the downstream conveyance system, restore  Catch Basins ’ sediment trapping capacity, and ensure the system functions properly hydraulically to avoid flooding .  Suggested Protocols For Catch Basins/Inlet Structures Regularly Inspect Facilities To Ensure The Following:    Immediate repair of any deterioration threatening structural integrity.   Cleaning before the sump is 40% full. Catch Basins should be cleaned as frequently as needed to meet this standard.  Stenciling of  Catch Basins  and inlets (see SC-75 Waste Handling and Disposal).  Clean  Catch Basins , storm drain inlets, and other conveya...

The Difference Between Storm Sewers & Sanitary Sewer Systems Everyone has seen storm drains before, and just about everyone has heard of a sewer system. But could you name the major differences between the two of them? Do you know that the two of them can often be mixed up? Not only does this mistake keep some people confused, but it can also have damaging effects on the environment and the systems built within it. Here we outline the major differences between storm drains and sewer systems, and how to properly maintain them.  A storm drain is a system designed for the purpose of carrying rainwater or melting snow. They can often be found, built into roadside curbs, alleys, or basements floors. Storm drains often carry rainwater and melted snow through an underground system that ends up in nearby rivers, creeks, or the ocean. A storm sewer contains untreated water. So the water that enters the river or ocean at the other end is the same water that entered the...

Discover How Often You Should Clean Your Catch Basins Among the multitude of equipment a facilities staff must oversee, catch basins (or storm drains) are certainly not the most complex; however, they play a vital role in maintaining the safety and health of a facility. A catch basin accepts stormwater, provides some basic physical filtration, and then releases the effluent into the watershed or a sewer system.  So as long as storm water continues to drain, what is there to worry about? Probably not much — but at some point, the catch basin will back up, and a contractor will be brought in to fix the problem until the next flooding occurs. For many facilities, such a “run-to-fail” policy may be working just fine. But is it the most economically efficient approach to managing catch basins? To answer for yourself, consider some of the differences between these two options: Conduct biannual inspections and perform cleanings as needed. Fix problems as they arise...

Catch Basins   often referred to as Storm Drains, essentially catch rainwater, dirt, and floatable debris. Floatable Debris can be organic and inorganic materials. Examples of organic material leaves, sticks, soil, and grass. Examples of inorganic material are things like plastic bottles, coffee cup lids, Styrofoam or extruded polystyrene foam, cigarettes, even car parts. There are metal hoods that cover the outflow pipes. This keeps most foreign material in the catch basin . Now some older catch basins dont have hoods on the pipes going to other drainage structures which allow floatables to escape the catch basin and infiltrate other structures such as dry wells, inverts, head walls, sewer systems.  Catch Basins  can flow directly to a sump, brook, creek, river, lake, bay, and sometimes right to the ocean. It is not uncommon to find used engine oil, antifreeze, and other common solvents and toxins inside of catch basins. I have also found animals stuck in th...