Catch Basin Installation on Lake Norman: What It Is and When You Need One

A catch basin is the simplest piece of drainage hardware on a property and one of the most misplaced. Put in the right spot it empties a puddle in minutes; put in the wrong spot it does nothing at all.

What it is and what it does

A catch basin is a grated box set flush with the ground, connected to solid pipe. Surface water enters the grate and is carried away to an outlet. The sump below the pipe outlet catches sediment so silt does not travel down the line.

Where a basin belongs

• The true low point of a lawn depression, verified with a level.
• The base of a downspout run collecting roof water.
• The edge of a patio, driveway or walkway that sheds water to one place.
• The bottom of a slope where runoff concentrates before it crosses the lawn.

Installation, step by step

We locate the low point, confirm an outlet with adequate fall, excavate for the basin and trench the discharge line, set the basin slightly below finished grade so water runs in, backfill and compact around it, connect solid pipe with continuous slope, and daylight the outlet or connect to an approved discharge point.

Setting a basin even a half inch high is enough for water to pool beside it instead of entering. Grade around the basin is checked before the sod goes back.

Maintenance

Twice a year, lift the grate and scoop out leaves and silt from the sump. Keep mulch and grass clippings off the grate. Check the outlet after big storms to make sure it is flowing free and not buried.

Frequently asked questions