How to Clean a Storm Sewer

Remove any trash or debris that may be obstructing the sewer drain. Open the drain and clear any debris that may have made its way into the catch basin. Clear the basin of any excess sediment or water that may have accumulated. Use caution as the materials in the basin may have been exposed to a variety of pollutants.

Hire a plumbing or sewer contractor to inspect the storm sewer pipes, which require specialized equipment for proper inspection. The pipes that make up the sewer system should be inspected to ensure that sediment, rocks and debris do not obstruct more than twenty percent of the pipe diameter. Treat all of the materials removed from inside of the piping as solid waste and dispose of it in the garbage.

Inspect the areas surround the sewer pipes to ensure that vegetation roots are not interfering with the piping. If roots have penetrated any section of piping, ensure that they are physically removed without the use of chemicals. This is important because chemicals will eventually flow to the body of water the sewer pipes lead to.