Municipal Storm Water Solutions

Pelican Underground understands the unique challenges municipalities face with storm water management. We deliver comprehensive municipal storm water solutions that protect your community, extend infrastructure lifespan, and maximize your limited budget through proven trenchless technology and preventive maintenance strategies.

Understanding Municipal Storm Water Challenges

Your storm water system is a complex network of catch basins, underground pipes, culverts, detention ponds, and outfall structures. Unlike sanitary sewer systems that handle predictable flows, storm water infrastructure must manage massive volume fluctuations—from dry conditions to intense rainfall events that can overwhelm capacity within minutes.

Our Storm Water Solutions

Trenchless Rehabilitation

When maintaining critical underground infrastructure, municipalities require specialized solutions for wastewater system failures; our trenchless rehabilitation methods ensure minimal public disruption during emergency municipal sewer line repairs.

Complete System Design and Integration

Effective underground infrastructure design must include systems that control runoff, which is why storm water management solutions are essential for preventing erosion, flooding, and environmental damage.

We work with your engineering team to develop comprehensive solutions that integrate detention, filtration, and conveyance systems. Whether you’re expanding existing infrastructure or designing new developments, we ensure systems meet both current needs and future capacity requirements.

Trenchless Technology for Storm Water Systems

Traditional storm water repairs meant significant disruption: closed roads, torn-up pavement, traffic detours, and angry commuters. Trenchless methods change this equation completely.

Minimal Surface Disruption – Repairs happen from inside the pipe. Roads stay open. Traffic flows normally. Businesses remain accessible. Residents barely notice the work.

Faster Project Completion – Most trenchless repairs complete in days, not weeks or months. This means less contractor cost, reduced traffic impact, and faster return to normal operations.

Lower Total Costs – While per-foot costs might seem higher initially, trenchless methods eliminate expensive excavation, traffic control, pavement removal and replacement, and landscape restoration. Total project costs often run 30-50% less than traditional replacement.

Superior Long-Term Performance – Modern trenchless materials resist corrosion, root intrusion, and chemical exposure. CIPP liners typically carry 50-year service life ratings, often outlasting the surrounding original pipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are municipal storm water solutions?

Municipal storm water solutions encompass all services needed to manage, maintain, and repair public drainage infrastructure. This includes catch basin cleaning, pipe inspection and rehabilitation, culvert repairs, detention basin maintenance, and outfall structure management. These solutions use modern technology—especially trenchless methods—to extend infrastructure life, prevent flooding, and meet environmental regulations while minimizing public disruption and optimizing limited municipal budgets.

How often should municipalities inspect storm water systems?

Most municipalities should conduct comprehensive storm water inspections every 3-5 years for the entire system, with high-risk areas inspected annually. Critical infrastructure like major trunk lines, outfalls near sensitive areas, and pipes beneath major roadways warrant more frequent assessment. Many municipalities also inspect after major storm events to identify damage before it worsens. Regular inspection programs catch problems early when repairs are simpler and less expensive.

What causes municipal storm water systems to fail?

Common failure causes include aging infrastructure past its design life, increased runoff from urban development exceeding original capacity, sediment and debris accumulation reducing flow capacity, tree root intrusion creating blockages, ground settlement causing pipe misalignment, corrosion from soil chemistry or road salt exposure, joint separation from thermal cycling, and structural overloading from increased surface traffic. Many systems installed 50+ years ago face multiple failure modes simultaneously.

Is trenchless repair suitable for large diameter storm pipes?

Yes, trenchless technology works on pipes ranging from small residential lines to massive box culverts and 10+ foot diameter trunk mains. CIPP lining adapts to various pipe sizes and shapes, including circular, elliptical, and box configurations. Large diameter pipes often benefit most from trenchless methods since traditional replacement would require extensive excavation, expensive shoring, complex traffic control, and significant pavement reconstruction—all eliminated with trenchless rehabilitation.

Can you repair pipes under buildings or paved areas?

Costs vary significantly based on pipe diameter, length, depth, condition, and repair method. Trenchless CIPP lining typically ranges from $80-$300 per linear foot for storm pipes, depending on size. Traditional excavation and replacement often costs $250-$600+ per foot when including excavation, disposal, new pipe, backfill, and complete surface restoration. Catch basin rehabilitation ranges from $1,500-$5,000 per structure. Regular maintenance (cleaning, inspection) costs far less than emergency repairs, typically $150-$500 per catch basin annually.

What documentation do municipalities need for storm water projects?

Proper documentation includes pre-repair video inspection showing existing conditions, engineering assessments and repair recommendations, compliance with local and EPA regulations, contractor licensing and insurance verification, material certifications and warranties, post-repair video inspection confirming quality, as-built drawings showing repair locations, and warranty information. This documentation supports regulatory compliance, justifies budget requests, aids future planning, and provides legal protection if questions arise.

Can municipalities get grant funding for storm water projects?

Yes, numerous funding sources support municipal storm water improvements. EPA Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) provide low-interest loans for storm water projects. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds flood prevention infrastructure. Many states offer dedicated storm water infrastructure grants. The key is demonstrating need through proper documentation, showing cost-effectiveness of proposed solutions, and proving regulatory compliance benefits. We help municipalities develop documentation that strengthens funding applications.

Protect Your Community with Proven Solutions

water solutions that deliver results. From comprehensive inspections to trenchless rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance programs, we help cities and counties manage storm water infrastructure effectively and efficiently.

Contact us today to discuss your community’s storm water challenges and discover how our proven solutions can protect your infrastructure investment while your municipality’s storm water system is critical infrastructure that protects residents, supports economic development, and preserves the environment. Aging systems need modern solutions that work within realistic budgets while minimizing disruption to daily life.

Pelican Underground specializes in municipal stormwater serving residents better.