Drainage Services FAQ
What is a berm? A berm is like a miniature speed bump and is used to divert or direct water toward catch basins or areas where the water can flow off the asphalt onto a permeable surface. Both can be done. There are "risers" or "spacers" between the "basin" and the surface grate. These can be added or removed to achieve the desired height.
Can you raise or lower a catch basin?
What is the difference between a storm drain and a dry well?
A storm drain is a large-volume storm water management system that captures water at the surface at grated "catch basins" and collects and consolidates water from a large area. Most drains have a single large exit at their point of discharge into a canal, river, lake, reservoir, sea or ocean. A dry well collects water in a similar fashion at the surface, but is designed to discharge slowly into the soil and is meant only for small volumes of water.
Standing water on the parking lot surface is not a good thing. It will promote early deterioration and failure. We can employ different strategies depending on the depth and total number of puddles. Rather than try to "re-grade" the surface, it is usually best to try to harness what gravity is already doing and capture water at the existing low spots and deliver it to an existing storm drainage system. This can be done by placement of new catch basins or trench drains at the surface. Berms are also productive in "steering" water away from problem areas to begin with.
