Catch Basin Inspection Logger
Stormwater catch basin log — grate, sump sediment depth, outlet condition and illicit discharge signs; built for MS4 programs, offline + GPS.
New catch basin inspection
Typical MS4 permits expect each basin inspected (and cleaned as needed) at least annually; high-debris areas semi-annually before wet season.
Field guide: Catch Basin Inspection Logger
Catch basins are the first—and cheapest—pollution control device in the stormwater system: the sump traps sediment and trash before it reaches the pipe network and the receiving stream. But a sump only works until it's full, and a full sump simply passes everything through. This logger captures the one measurement that drives the cleaning program — sediment depth as a fraction of sump — plus the grate, structure and outlet checks that MS4 inspections expect.
The pollution panel makes every inspector an illicit-discharge sensor: oil sheens, sewage odor, suds and especially dry-weather flow are the textbook IDDE triggers under stormwater permits. Flagging them here with a GPS pin and date gives the program the paper trail a regulator looks for.
Field tips
- Inspect after leaf-fall and before the wet season — that single timing choice catches most capacity problems.
- Measure sump sediment with a marked rod; 'looks half full' becomes defensible when it's '350 mm of 700 mm sump'.
- Dry-weather flow into or out of a storm basin is never normal — trace it the same day if you can, log it regardless.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Catch Basin Inspection Logger — Stormwater catch basin log — grate, sump sediment depth, outlet condition and illicit discharge signs; built for MS4 programs, offline + GPS. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Catch Basin Inspection Logger
Catch basins are the first—and cheapest—pollution control device in the stormwater system: the sump traps sediment and trash before it reaches the pipe network and the receiving stream. But a sump only works until it's full, and a full sump simply passes everything through. This logger captures the one measurement that drives the cleaning program — sediment depth as a fraction of sump — plus the grate, structure and outlet checks that MS4 inspections expect.
How to use Catch Basin Inspection Logger
- 1Enter the basin id and tap 📍 GPS to pin the catch basin's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the catch basin checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the OK / Needs cleaning / Structural repair / Illicit discharge ⚠ scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Catch Basin Inspection Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with EPA MS4 Program / IDDE guidance (CWA NPDES)
Frequently asked questions
How often should catch basins be cleaned?+
The honest answer is 'when the sump passes ~50%', which varies wildly by land use — a leafy arterial may need annual cleaning while a quiet cul-de-sac goes five years. That's exactly why depth logging beats fixed schedules: it converts the fleet to condition-based cleaning and usually cuts vactor truck hours.
What is an illicit discharge?+
Anything in the storm system that isn't stormwater — sewage cross-connections, washwater, oil dumping, paint or concrete washout. MS4 permits require programs to detect and eliminate them (IDDE). Dry-weather flow is the classic screening indicator: if it hasn't rained in 72 hours and water is moving, something is discharging.
Why does frame settlement matter?+
A settled frame ponds water over the inlet instead of into it, undermines the surrounding pavement through freeze-thaw, and becomes a crash hazard for cyclists. It's also the visible symptom of voids forming around the structure — log it as structural, not cosmetic.
Do grates really matter for bicycle safety?+
Yes — older parallel-bar grates aligned with travel can swallow a bicycle wheel. Modern standards require bicycle-safe patterns or cross-bars. An inventory pass that flags unsafe orientations is a cheap, defensible safety project with a clean before/after record.
Embed Catch Basin Inspection Logger on your website
Want Catch Basin Inspection Loggeron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/catch-basin-inspection-logger" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Catch Basin Inspection Logger — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related GIS tools
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