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Tapping into existing catch basin

Posted on 2/16/25 at 5:35 pm
Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4952 posts
Posted on 2/16/25 at 5:35 pm
I’m going to run 4” S&D pipe from all my downspouts this spring. I was going to just terminate with a pop-up emitter, but then figured it would be cleaner to just run the pipe right into the catch basin.

I figured I could get a cheap-ish 5” SDS core bit, use my hammer drill to drill a hole through the side of the catch basin, and seal it up the penetration with some hydraulic cement. Of course I’ll do this on the weekend, so the parish doesn’t bust me.

Anyone here do this? Anything I’m missing here? TIA
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
10183 posts
Posted on 2/16/25 at 6:10 pm to
My neighbor where I grew up did this. Far as I know it’s still there 35 years later.
Posted by ruzil
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2012
17904 posts
Posted on 2/16/25 at 6:47 pm to
I would not connect the drain pipe directly to the gutter downspout. I don't know how well the city maintains their storm drains, but if the drains get plugged you could have a backup and get water into the house if you do.

Instead, let the downspout drain into a grated drain.
Posted by MasterDigger
Member since Nov 2019
2339 posts
Posted on 2/16/25 at 7:51 pm to
quote:

I would not connect the drain pipe directly to the gutter downspout.
True

Posted by armytiger96
Member since Sep 2007
1610 posts
Posted on 2/16/25 at 8:45 pm to
quote:

Anyone here do this? Anything I’m missing here? TIA


I did this last fall but I laid the PVC pipe on top of the catch basin instead of tying into it.
Posted by poochie
Houma, la
Member since Apr 2007
6763 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 7:33 am to
what if you tapped directly into the pipe instead of the catch basin? If it's plastic, a regular hole saw can go through.
Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4952 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 9:05 am to
quote:

what if you tapped directly into the pipe instead of the catch basin? If it's plastic, a regular hole saw can go through.


I’m bound by concrete on 3 sides. The only way to get the water into the storm drain is by terminating the drain near the grate of the catch basin, or in the catch basin. I could maybe jet a piece of 4” pipe under the driveway and try and tap into the pipe on the other side, but at that point, it’s easier to just cut into the catch basin.
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
10183 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 9:10 am to
I think people are getting your street catch basin confused with the plastic ones that go in a yard
Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4952 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 9:21 am to
quote:

I would not connect the drain pipe directly to the gutter downspout. I don't know how well the city maintains their storm drains, but if the drains get plugged you could have a backup and get water into the house if you do. Instead, let the downspout drain into a grated drain.


I’m not sure I get your logic here, so you may have to clarify. If the municipal storm drains back up, all of the water from my downspouts won’t have anywhere to go, and will back up and overflow the grate at the top of the catch basin near the street, and flood that area. That point is still a good 12-13’ below the gutter levels, so why would the water back up to the point it’s staying in/overfilling the gutters? The same thing would happen if I had the drainage terminating just near the catch basin at the surface; the catch basin would back up and flood that area.

If you’re suggesting the 4” pipes from my downspouts to the catch basin might clog up; very possible. That’s why I’m putting a wye and clean out at every downspout attachment (example from the interwebs below).



Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4952 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 9:23 am to
quote:

I think people are getting your street catch basin confused with the plastic ones that go in a yard


Possibly.

No, I’m definitely referring to tapping directly into the municipal storm drain.
Posted by ruzil
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2012
17904 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 3:42 pm to
In the event of a large rainstorm, if the storm drains back up and the down spout from the gutter gets backed up (because the water has no where to go), your gutters will overfill and create that potential to get water under your shingles and into the house.

Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4952 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 5:13 pm to
quote:

n the event of a large rainstorm, if the storm drains back up and the down spout from the gutter gets backed up (because the water has no where to go), your gutters will overfill and create that potential to get water under your shingles and into the house.


But the water does have somewhere to go. It would overfill the catch basins and flood the street/yard, which is still much lower in elevation than the gutters. If there were no catch basins to allow overflow and things were directly piped below grade, I’d agree.
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
3148 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 5:25 pm to
That's not how physics works. The gutters will have 12-15 feet of head pressure and will push water to the already flooded street/drain. A gutter 15 feet in the air isn't going to hold water when the streets are flooded.

OP it sounds like you're aware that tampering with city drains is ill advised. Pesky neighbors with camera phones are just as damaging as city officials. I did something similar under cover of a lowered pop up tent not too long ago for that reason.
Posted by GeauxldMember
Member since Nov 2003
4952 posts
Posted on 2/17/25 at 6:07 pm to
quote:

That's not how physics works. The gutters will have 12-15 feet of head pressure and will push water to the already flooded street/drain. A gutter 15 feet in the air isn't going to hold water when the streets are flooded.




quote:

Pesky neighbors with camera phones are just as damaging as city officials. I did something similar under cover of a lowered pop up tent not too long ago for that reason.






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