Denver Main sewer line replacement
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Storm Drain and Manhole Contractors in Denver
Sewer Experts installs, repairs and rebuilds storm drains, catch basins, culverts and manholes across the Denver metro. One crew handles the excavation, the structure, the pipe and the pavement, on commercial lots, HOA streets and residential properties.
Catch basins and inletsManholesStorm drain pipe and culvertsSite and yard drainageDenver metro and Front Range
Two systems, two jobs
Storm drains are not sewers
Denver runs two separate underground systems, and they fail in different ways. We work on both, so you get the right fix instead of a plumber guessing at a drainage problem.
Storm drain system
Carries rain and snowmelt from roofs, streets and parking lots through inlets, catch basins and storm pipe to a creek, a detention pond or the South Platte. No treatment. When it clogs, sinks or collapses, water pools on the surface, pavement washes out and basements flood.
Sanitary sewer system
Carries wastewater from sinks, toilets and floor drains through your private sewer line to the city main and on to treatment. When it fails you get backups in the house, sewer smell and soggy spots over the line. That work lives on our sewer line repair pages.
Manholes serve both. They are the access points crews use to inspect, clean and repair the pipe below. A sunken, cracked or leaking manhole lets groundwater and dirt into the system and lets the road above it fail. We build new ones and rebuild old ones.
Storm drain and manhole services
What we install, repair and rebuild
Catch basins and storm inlets
The concrete boxes under street grates and parking lot drains that collect runoff and trap sediment before it reaches the pipe. We install new catch basins, replace crushed or rusted-out ones, reset grates and frames, rebuild cracked walls, and clean out basins packed with silt, leaves and debris.
- Curb inlets and area drains
- Precast and poured-in-place basins
- Grate and frame replacement
- Catch basin cleaning and sump repair
Manhole installation and repair
New precast manholes on new sewer and storm lines, and rehabilitation of old ones: replacing failed rings and lids, raising manholes to a new pavement grade, sealing leaking joints and rebuilding the cone and barrel when the structure has shifted. A manhole that rocks under traffic or sits below the asphalt is a road failure waiting to happen.
- Precast manhole installation
- Ring, cone and lid replacement
- Manhole raising and adjustment
- Joint sealing and barrel rebuild
Storm drain pipe and culverts
The pipe that connects inlets to the outfall, and the culverts that carry water under driveways, roads and ditches. We install new runs, replace collapsed or undersized sections, and repair joints that have separated and let soil wash into the line. Pipe is set on bedding at the right slope and backfilled in compacted lifts, the same way we build sewer lines.
- New storm sewer runs
- Culvert installation and replacement
- Collapsed pipe replacement
- Joint and offset repair
Site and yard drainage
Smaller systems that keep water away from buildings. Trench drains across driveways and loading docks, area drains in low spots, underground downspout lines, sump pump discharge lines that reach the street or a dry well, and dry wells themselves. Done properly the first time, with the pavement or lawn put back.
- Trench and channel drains
- Dry well installation
- Underground downspout and sump discharge lines
- Yard and area drains
Know the signs
Six signs a storm drain or manhole needs work
Water pools after every storm
A puddle that sits for hours next to an inlet means the basin or the pipe below is blocked, crushed or too small.
Pavement sinking near a drain
A dip or sinkhole forming beside a catch basin or manhole usually means a leaking joint is washing soil into the pipe.
Manhole lid rocks or sits low
A lid that clanks under tires or sits below the asphalt has a failed ring or a sunken cone. Traffic will finish the job.
Cracked or crumbling inlet walls
Freeze and thaw cycles in Colorado break up old concrete basins. Once the walls go, the frame and grate follow.
Basement floods in heavy rain
Water coming in at the floor or the window wells during storms points to surface drainage, not the sanitary sewer.
Silt and debris in the basin
A catch basin full to the outlet cannot hold sediment. Cleaning it is cheap. Replacing a pipe packed with sand is not.
How the work goes
From site visit to finished pavement
Storm drain work happens under streets, parking lots and lawns that have to go back the way they were. We plan for that from the first visit.
Site visit and camera inspection
We walk the site, open the structures and run a camera through the pipe, so the estimate is based on what is actually down there.
Written scope and price
Structure, pipe, excavation and restoration listed as separate lines. For HOAs and property managers we include what the board needs to approve it.
Permits and locates
Colorado 811 locate request, plus the street cut or wastewater permit when the work touches the public right of way or connects to the city system.
Excavation, structure and pipe
Right-sized machine for the site, shoring where the trench is deep, precast structures set level on a prepared base, pipe on bedding at the designed slope.
Backfill, compaction and pavement
Backfill in compacted lifts so nothing settles, then asphalt or concrete patched to spec and inspected. Lawns get topsoil and seed.
Who calls us
Commercial, HOA and residential drainage
- Property managers
Parking lot drains, catch basin cleaning and manhole repairs across a portfolio, with scopes written for owner approval.
- HOAs
Private streets, shared drainage and detention outlets that the city does not maintain. We help boards plan and budget.
- General contractors
Storm and sanitary structures on new builds and additions, coordinated with your schedule and your inspector.
- Restaurants and retail
Grease trap and drainage work on tight lots, scheduled around business hours, with the lot open again fast.
- Homeowners
Flooded window wells, a driveway that ponds, a downspout that dumps at the foundation. Small systems that stop big damage.
Permits and rules in Denver
The paperwork is part of the job
Storm drain work almost always touches something the city cares about: the public right of way, a connection to the public storm or sanitary system, or stormwater quality on a commercial site. We deal with the city so you do not have to.
Work in a street or sidewalk in Denver needs a street cut permit, and the city inspects the backfill and pavement repair. Connections to the public system need a wastewater permit and an inspection before the trench closes. Colorado law requires a locate request through Colorado 811 before any digging. Requirements differ in Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada and the other metro cities, and we confirm them for each job.
- Colorado 811 locate filed by us before the dig, with the waiting period built into the schedule.
- Street cut and right-of-way permits pulled by us, with traffic control set up when the work is in the road.
- Connection permits and inspections scheduled by us when the pipe ties into the city storm or sanitary system.
- Erosion and sediment control on the site while the ground is open, so runoff does not carry dirt into the storm system.
- Backfill and pavement to city spec, inspected and documented, so the patch does not become the next problem.
Questions
Storm drain and manhole questions we hear in Denver
Who is responsible for the storm drain on my property?
Storm drains in a public street belong to the city. Drains and pipe on private property, including most parking lots, HOA streets and everything on a residential lot, belong to the property owner or the association. If the city does not maintain it, it is yours to repair, and that is the work we do.
Does a clogged storm drain need cleaning or repair?
A camera inspection answers that in minutes. If the basin is full of silt but the walls and pipe are sound, cleaning restores it. If the pipe is crushed, offset at a joint or full of roots, cleaning only buys a few months and a repair is the real fix.
How much does a catch basin or storm drain installation cost?
It depends on the size of the structure, the depth and length of pipe, what is on top, and whether the work is in a street that needs traffic control and a permit. We quote from a site visit and a camera inspection, with the structure, pipe, excavation and restoration priced separately so you can see where the money goes.
Can you rebuild a manhole without replacing it?
Often, yes. If the barrel is sound, we can replace the ring and lid, rebuild the cone, seal leaking joints and raise the manhole to grade. If the barrel has shifted or cracked through, replacement with a new precast manhole is the safer long-term fix.
Do you do storm drain work in winter?
Yes. Frozen ground slows excavation but does not stop it, and many drainage repairs are best done before spring runoff. Asphalt and concrete patching depend on plant availability and temperature, so a temporary patch is sometimes used until the permanent one can be placed.
Can a sump pump or downspout be connected to the storm drain?
In many Denver metro cities, yes, but only to the storm system, never to the sanitary sewer, and only with the city’s approval and a proper connection. Where a connection is not allowed, a dry well or a discharge line to a safe surface point is the alternative. We check the rule for your address before we quote.
What size culvert do I need under a driveway?
Culvert size depends on the drainage area, the slope and the county or city standard for your road. Undersized culverts wash out. We size them to the standard, set them on bedding at the right grade, and protect the ends so they last.
How long does a catch basin replacement take?
A single catch basin with a short pipe run is typically one to two days on site, plus the permit lead time if it is in a street. Manhole rebuilds are usually one day. Larger storm sewer runs are scheduled in phases so the lot or street stays usable.
Site visit and estimate
Water going where it should not?
Tell us the address and what you are seeing. We will schedule a site visit, inspect the structures and pipe, and send a written scope and price.
Helpful to send with your request
- Photos of the drain, manhole or the pooling water
- Whether it is a street, a parking lot, an HOA area or a home
- Any plans or a previous inspection report you have
(720) 663-7473Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
info@sewerex.comEmail us anytime
Request a storm drain estimate
Fill in the form and we will call you back.
Drenajes pluviales, alcantarillas y pozos de inspección · Llamenos Hoy (720) 663-7473
6510 E. 49th Ave. Ste A,
Commerce City, CO 80022Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Comercial y residencial contratista de reparación
Phone Number:Número de teléfono:
(720) 663-7473
Call us todayLlamenos Hoy
info@sewerex.com
