Storm drains do a lot of heavy lifting. Most of the time, you don’t think about them. But when they fail, everything else gets messy fast. Storm drain service helps avoid that by keeping everything flowing the way it should before storms hit.
Why Storm Drain Service Matters Year-Round
California’s dry season gives a false sense of security. Storm drains sit still for months. Dust, trash, and sediment pile up. Then October rolls around, the first big rain hits, and water has nowhere to go. You see pooling, backups, and debris floating where it shouldn’t be, and that’s when the calls start.
Storm drain service is your buffer. Regular inspections, cleaning, and small repairs prevent bigger headaches down the road. Cities and counties expect it, property managers and developers rely on it, and the environment depends on it. A properly serviced system is the difference between smooth runoff and clogged chaos.
Get Ahead Before Fall
Late summer is the perfect window for storm drain service. When systems are dry, it’s easier to inspect and repair vaults, remove sediment, and swap out worn filters. Once rains return, crews switch from proactive to reactive mode, which limits what can be done safely and effectively.
That’s why we always remind clients to schedule vault pump-outs and catch basin cleaning between July and early October. The drier the system, the more thorough the work. And when it’s cleaned out ahead of time, there’s less risk of flooding or failed inspections when the first storm hits.
If your property uses proprietary treatment systems or filters, this is also the best time to replace them. Not all filters last from season to season, and many systems require new media annually to remain effective and in compliance. You don’t want to discover mid-storm that your vault filter has failed.
For more details on recommended maintenance timelines and seasonal prep, check out our stormwater maintenance guide.
Drain Markers and Environmental Compliance
You may have noticed metal medallions or decals near curb inlets that say “No Dumping – Drains to Creek” or “Flows to Bay.” Those are required by many municipalities to educate the public and support pollution prevention.
Proper storm drain service includes checking that all inlets have visible drain markers. Stenciled messages wear off quickly and often violate local environmental guidelines, which is why most cities now request more permanent methods like epoxy-sealed medallions.
These markers help reduce illegal dumping and improve community awareness. But they also show inspectors that you’re paying attention to your system. If you’re missing drain identifiers or still using outdated stencils, it’s time to upgrade.
Trash Capture and Flow Efficiency
In California, full trash capture isn’t optional anymore. Regulations require that storm drain systems remove all particles 5 millimeters and larger before discharge. That includes cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and plastic bits that wash off streets and parking lots.
Storm drain service ensures that trash capture devices are in place and functioning. These might be catch basin inserts, hydrodynamic separators, or vault filters. If any of these are overloaded, clogged, or misaligned, they stop doing their job and can trigger violations during inspections.
A system that’s cleaned once a year might pass in theory, but if debris builds up during the first storm, it fails in practice. Routine servicing, especially during the dry season, keeps everything within spec and ready to perform when it counts.
Explore California’s stormwater trash capture requirements.
The Role of Drainage Inspections
It’s easy to think storm drain service is all about cleaning, but inspections are the real backbone. When technicians pop open a vault or lift a grate, they’re looking for signs of wear, corrosion, structural damage, or improper flow. A crack in a junction box, rusted ladder rung, or loose pipe connection can cause major issues once water starts moving again.
Routine inspections are also how sediment buildup is measured. If more than one-third of a vault or catch basin is full, it’s time to pump. But unless someone’s checking, that sediment quietly accumulates until your system clogs or overflows.
Most California municipalities require wet-season inspections monthly and at least one dry-weather inspection annually. If you manage multiple sites, staying ahead of those intervals with a recurring service plan can make a world of difference.
What Happens During Storm Drain Service
This is one of the few times it makes sense to break things down step by step. When SWIMS performs storm drain service, here’s what a typical visit looks like:
- Locate and map storm drain inlets, vaults, and treatment devices.
- Check for drain markers and replace or install as needed.
- Inspect for sediment, damage, or obstructions.
- Pump out vaults and basins using vacuum trucks.
- Clean trench drains, grates, and surface inlets.
- Replace filter media and trash capture inserts.
- Remove sediment from BMPs like bioswales or rain gardens.
- Document everything, including photos, service notes, and GPS records.
After that, we provide a service report for your files and any upcoming audits.
Don’t Wait for a Complaint or Violation
The most common calls we get in winter aren’t from people looking to schedule maintenance. They’re from property managers trying to fix flooding. A backed-up drain, an overflowing vault, or a blocked trench might seem like it came out of nowhere. But it didn’t.
Storm drain service should be viewed like HVAC tune-ups or roof inspections, something you do before the weather turns, not after. And in California, that means mid to late summer is go time.
On top of that, many regulatory agencies are now checking service records during annual site inspections. If your system fails or your documentation is missing, the citation often includes a compliance timeline that’s not easy to meet during peak rainy season.
Get ahead. Don’t let a missed service turn into a $4,000 repair.
Why SWIMS is Built for This
Storm drain service has been part of our DNA since day one. Our crews know the ins and outs of municipal systems, private development plans, and the strict requirements around construction sites. We’ve worked on shopping centers, schools, transit hubs, multi-acre developments, and local parks.
A Quick Reminder Before Fall
Storm drain service is peace of mind. You don’t want to be scrambling with a pump truck at 6 AM during a downpour. And you don’t want to get caught in violation because someone forgot to change a filter.
If you manage commercial, municipal, or construction properties, now is the time to take a look at your stormwater system. A single walkthrough can reveal what needs attention and what’s already working. And once it’s done, you can head into the wet season with confidence.
Don’t Let It Clog Up Your Season
Give your site the fresh start it deserves. SWIMS provides storm drain service with the attention, precision, and care that keeps your system flowing. Let’s get your drains cleaned, your records updated, and your site ready for anything. Reach out to SWIMS today.