Catch Basin Installation in Richmond Hill, ON | OCM Excavation

OCM Excavation installs precast concrete catch basins throughout Richmond Hill to fix backyard pooling, driveway puddles, and patio runoff. We dig the pit, set a 24″x24″ or 30″x30″ basin on a Granular A base, and tie it to the storm sewer or a dry well with sloped PVC. Typical Richmond Hill installs run $2,500-6,500 depending on depth and tie-in distance. We service everything from Oak Ridges to Bayview estates. Call 416-317-3090 for a no-cost site visit.

How a Catch Basin Works

A catch basin is a concrete chamber with a cast-iron grate. Surface water enters through the grate, falls into a sump well at the base that captures sediment, leaves, and grit, then leaves through a horizontal PVC discharge pipe to your tie-in point. The sump well is the part that prevents clogs downstream — without it, you’d silt the discharge line in a season. In Richmond Hill’s newer subdivisions, we often pull half a bucket of construction sand out of the sump on the first cleanout.

Four Common Richmond Hill Applications

• Driveway low spot. Pooling in front of the garage on flat Richmond Hill driveways. Grate set flush in the asphalt or concrete, tied to the street storm sewer.
• Backyard pooling. The most common Richmond Hill call — newer subdivisions sometimes have surveyor-graded lots that don’t drain as designed once landscaping is installed. Basin set at the low point, tied to street or rear dry well.
• Patio and walkway drainage. Trench drain installed across walkways and pool decks to intercept sheet flow before it reaches the back of the house.
• Window well overflow. Catch basin set in the lawn beside the window well to capture upstream runoff before it overwhelms the well drainage.

Our Richmond Hill Install Process

1. Locate utilities through Ontario One Call and pull a permit if we’re tying into the municipal storm sewer.
2. Excavate the basin pit and trench with our Yanmar SV40 mini-excavator. Typical depth is 4-5 ft at the basin and 3 ft along the discharge for frost protection.
3. Set the precast basin on compacted Granular A, connect the PVC discharge with at least 1% slope, and verify alignment before backfill.
4. Backfill with 3/4 clear stone around the basin, soil along the trench, restore grade, and install the grate level with the surface.

What Drives the Price in Richmond Hill

Bayview estate lots in Richmond Hill often need 60-80 ft of discharge trench to reach the street, and every 10 ft adds roughly $300-500. Discharge type matters too: a municipal storm sewer connection is the priciest because it needs a Richmond Hill permit and inspection, a dry well on private land is mid-range and skips the city permit, and a daylight swale is cheapest but only works on lots that already pitch away from the house. Surface restoration adds another layer — asphalt patch $800-1,500, concrete patch $1,200-2,500, lawn restoration $300-800.

Why Richmond Hill Calls OCM

We know Richmond Hill subdivisions where the original grading worked on paper but failed in practice — Oak Ridges, the Bayview corridor, and the newer developments south of Elgin Mills. We size the basin to the catchment area, route the discharge to the cheapest legal option, and finish with grade restoration that matches your existing landscape. Most Richmond Hill installs wrap in 2-4 days. For larger projects, we pair the catch basin with a French drain or a sump pump discharge. Call 416-317-3090.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a catch basin alone fix my Richmond Hill yard pooling?

It will if pooling is concentrated at one low point. If water sits across a broader area, you may need a catch basin paired with regrading or a French drain to collect the slower-moving water before it reaches the basin. We assess this on-site before quoting.

Do I need a Richmond Hill permit?

A permit is typically required only when the discharge ties into the municipal storm sewer, since that connection sits on city property. Dry wells and swales on private property usually don’t require one. We confirm with the city before any excavation begins.

How deep does the basin sit?

Most residential basins sit 4-5 ft deep at the sump, with the discharge pipe leaving at roughly 3 ft below grade for frost protection. The grate sits flush with the finished surface — asphalt, concrete, or lawn.

How often does a catch basin need to be cleaned?

Once a year is typical — usually in spring after the snowmelt or fall after leaf drop. Pop the grate, scoop the sediment out of the sump well, and flush. Lots with mature trees may need cleaning twice annually.

Get a Free Richmond Hill Catch Basin Quote

Walking the yard takes about 30 minutes and the quote is free. Call OCM Excavation at 416-317-3090 or use our free quote form. We also handle Vaughan and Markham. See the rest of our GTA service areas or our Richmond Hill excavation page for broader site work.