Question about catch basins

[BlackLead]

Hey, all,
I just went out and looked at the catch basins installed in my driveway. As it turns out, they hold water? Apparently, the pipes into and out of the basin are both above the bottom by about an inch or so. Is this normal for these? Do I need to drill weep holes in the bottom to let the standing water leach out, or will this just create voids under the slab? Any insight would be great.

 

[Gary S]

Keep the water in there. You need it for the mosquitoes to breed.

No, actually, I don't know. Around here we just drain the water away and don't try catching any part of it. A water hole like that would just freeze up in our cold winters and break apart.

 

[bill5674]

ahh something i can talk intelligently about! if the pipes go someplace to drain *ie*a positive system them you can pour concrete and make an invert so the water travels down to the low end.depending on the soil type in your neck of the woods you can bust out the bottom ....on second thought .if the basin is not set in sand or gravel it will not drain properly.most of the drainage on our highways (at least in ny) have a four foot sump below the pipe,and they almost always have standing water...bill

 

[snorky18]

For some of the smaller residental type catch basins that is normal, it's called a sump.

I would NOT drill any weep holes. With enough time and flow the water washes out the subgrade, leaving your driveway unsupported. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

I wouldn't worry about it as long as the pipes are draining fine. If it really bother you you can fill in the bottom of the box it with concrete up to the bottom of the lowest pipe.

 

[Mike83]

The sump keeps debris from clogging up the pipe that exits the catchbasin. Kindof like a drum trap except with leaves and dirt and garbage instead of hair and grease.

 

[kbs2244]

Mike has the idea.
They are there to let the big heavy stuff fall to the bottom and when the water leve get up to the level of the exit pipe it flows out.
So some water in the bottom is normal.

I would leave it be.
The guys that install them know the local conditions and codes.
I would be pretty sure it was done right.

 

[brownbagg]

they are suppose to come back and mud the floor of the basin with grout so it flow in the pipe

 

[rsanter]

look at the NGB (next generation basin) by NDS (national diversified sales)
that basin has location for weep holes in the bottom or a large part of the bottom can be removed to make it a leaching basin
I was one of the designers of that I am proud to say...anyhow

it depends on the area you are in and where the basin is located. the bottom part is to catch dirt and debree to prevent it from plugging the pipes. you can drill a few leach holes to let the water drain from the bottom.
what some people do that do not like the bottom trap area of the basin is to put a little concrete in the bottom of them to fill it to level with the pipe. if you have enough slope on your drain pipe and get enough water going through the system, then it will flush itself so you wont have to worry about the pipes clogging

bob

 

[tabbur]

I know this is an old post but I'll start here because I've seen some comments pertinent to my question. I just had a catch basis installed and am wondering if I should fill in bottom 1-2" catch area with concrete so water won't leach into ground area right next to concrete driveway. I've included pic of basin after water leached out and where drain is located next to drivewayarea.

 

[tabbur]

Pic of driveway area


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