For a Broward HOA or condo association, the storm drains are easy to forget until a summer storm leaves water standing in the parking lot or against the buildings. A simple maintenance plan prevents most of that: clean the catch basins on a set schedule, jet the connecting lines when they are restricted, and keep a clear record of every visit. This guide covers how often to clean, what to do before hurricane season, what your board should keep on file, and how routine cleaning fits into Broward drainage license renewals and recertifications.
Catch basins vs. storm lines
Your drainage system has two main parts, and they fail in different ways.
Catch basins and inlets are the boxes under the grates in your parking lots, roads and landscaped areas. They are built to trap sand, leaves, mulch and litter before it moves downstream. Over time that material fills the sump at the bottom of each basin. Once the sump is full, debris washes straight into the pipes, and a mat of leaves over the grate can stop water from getting in at all. Basins are cleaned with a vacuum truck from the surface, down to the bottom of the structure.
Storm lines are the pipes that connect the basins to each other and carry water to your lake, canal, exfiltration trench or outfall. Sediment that gets past the basins settles in low spots, and roots can work into joints. A restricted line backs water up into the basins even when the basins themselves are clean. Lines are cleared with high-pressure jetting, and a camera inspection shows whether the problem is debris or a damaged pipe.
A good maintenance plan treats both: basins cleaned on a schedule, and lines jetted when the basins show signs of backing up or when the cleaning crew finds a restriction.
Annual vs. quarterly cleaning
Annual cleaning — once a year, before hurricane season — is the minimum for most inland HOA communities with paved parking, moderate landscaping and no recurring flooding.
Semi-annual or quarterly cleaning makes sense when the property collects more debris or has less room for error. That includes:
- Waterfront and canal-front communities, where drains discharge close to the water and sand, salt spray and tidal backflow add to the load.
- Properties with heavy tree canopy, mulch beds or ongoing landscaping work.
- Communities near active construction, which sends sand and soil into the grates.
- Low-lying properties or drive aisles that already hold water after a normal afternoon storm.
- Sites where a past inspection or recertification flagged sediment or blocked structures.
Hurricane season checklist
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Use this checklist each spring and after every named storm:
- Schedule catch basin and inlet cleaning in April or May, before the rainy season starts.
- Walk the property and clear grates of leaves, mulch and litter before a storm is forecast.
- Confirm that outfalls, weirs and control structures to your lake or canal are not blocked.
- Remove loose debris, bags and landscaping waste that can wash into drains.
- Note any areas that held water in the last storm so the crew can check those lines first.
- After the storm, have the basins checked again — storms often refill them with sand and debris.
What your board should keep on file
Boards change, management companies change, and the drainage records need to survive both. After every cleaning, the file should include:
- The date of the work and the company that performed it.
- A list or map of every structure cleaned, using the same structure numbers each time.
- Before and after photos of each catch basin or inlet.
- The approximate volume of material removed and what it was — sand, leaves, litter or silt.
- Notes on any damage found, such as cracked basins, broken grates or restricted lines, and what was recommended.
- Invoices and the scope of work, so the record shows what was included.
How cleaning supports Broward drainage renewals
Broward County's Surface Water Management program licenses the operation and maintenance of stormwater systems, and many communities also fall under a local water control or drainage district with its own renewal rules. Some districts, such as the South Broward Drainage District, require a five-year drainage recertification in which a professional engineer inspects the system, lists any maintenance or repair work needed, and certifies the system after that work is done.
Routine cleaning makes that process easier. When the engineer arrives, the basins are already clean, the lines are clear and the board can hand over dated records showing the system has been maintained. If the engineer lists cleaning work, a licensed contractor can complete it and provide the photos and notes for the follow-up inspection.
Cleaning supports a renewal — it does not replace it. Express Drain & Sewer Cleaning is a licensed plumbing contractor, not an engineering firm. We do not inspect systems for certification, sign engineer forms or file licenses. Your engineer and your district or the county handle the certification and the license itself; we handle the cleaning and the records. Rules vary by district and change over time, so confirm the current requirements with your engineer, your drainage district or Broward County before planning work around a renewal.
Communities we serve in Broward
We maintain storm drains for HOAs and condo associations in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and across Broward and Miami-Dade, working from our yard at 5801 Mayo St in Hollywood. We schedule around resident traffic, cone off every open structure and work from your drain list so nothing is missed.
Get a plan in place
For a one-time cleanout before hurricane season or ahead of a recertification, see our storm drain and catch basin cleaning service. To put the whole system on a set annual, semi-annual or quarterly schedule with records after every visit, see our stormwater maintenance programs. Call (954) 763-2520 with your property address and the number of drains, and we will quote the work.
Call (954) 763-2520 — 24/7