Storm drain cleanout in Bakersfield
Silt, slurry and debris pulled out of manholes, catch basins, vaults and lines by vacuum, so you are not bailing it out by hand.
Free quotes from independent Kern County hydrovac operators. We're the request service, not the crew.
What a vacuum cleanout covers
A vacuum truck does for a drain what it does for a hole in the ground: it lifts what does not belong out through a large hose and into a debris tank. For sewers and storm drains that means slurry, silt and debris removed from the places that fill up and hold it.
- Manholes and vaults. Sediment and debris out of structures that cannot be reached from the surface with a shovel.
- Catch basins and inlets. Silt and trash pulled from street and lot drains before they back up or flow downstream.
- Lines. Debris and slurry removed from runs that are partly full or blocked.
- Disposal. What comes out has to go somewhere. See slurry hauling and disposal.
Who calls for it
Municipalities and public works crews with many structures to clear. Plumbers who need a line or a vault emptied before they can work. Property managers with a basin that keeps filling. Contractors who need a drain cleaned before or after a job.
Vacuum truck or jetter
A jetter loosens and flushes material along a line with high-pressure water. A vacuum truck lifts material out so it does not travel downstream. Which one your job needs, or both, depends on the blockage, and operators will say after reading your description. If you are not sure, say what you see and send a photo.
When to book a cleanout
- A catch basin, vault or manhole is full of silt or debris.
- A drain backs up or runs slowly and the cause is in the structure.
- A construction job needs slurry or wet debris removed. See slurry hauling.
- Something has gone wrong and the structure needs clearing urgently. See emergency requests.
- A line has to be cleared before work can start. See daylighting and potholing if digging is involved.
What to have ready
- The number of structures, and their type: manhole, basin, vault or line.
- Depth and how full they are, if you know.
- Access: street, lot or alley, and room for the truck.
- Traffic control if the work is in a public street.
- Where debris can go, and whether the material may be contaminated.
- Prevailing wage, certified payroll or insurance certificate requirements.
- Photos of the structures, if you have them.
Cleaning is not always digging
Emptying a structure and digging to reach one are different jobs. The 811 rules apply when digging is involved.
Your USA North 811 ticket
California Government Code 4216 requires notice to the regional one-call center, USA North 811 for Kern County, at least 2 working days before you dig, not counting the day you call, and no more than 14 calendar days ahead. Tickets are generally good for 28 days. (Code text, Energy Safety on 811.)
Digging to reach a line
If your job includes excavating to reach a structure or a line, the 811 notice rules above apply to the dig. Tell operators whether any excavation is part of the work so they can quote it correctly.
Work in a public street
Cleaning in a public street may need a permit and traffic control from the City of Bakersfield, Kern County or Caltrans, depending on who owns the road. Say who owns it in your request.
Public works paperwork
Public agency jobs often require prevailing wage, certified payroll and insurance certificates. The form asks, so operators can quote it from the start.
Cleanout questions
MethodDo I need a vacuum truck or a jetter?
A jetter loosens and flushes material along a line, and a vacuum truck lifts it out. Which you need depends on what is blocking the line, and some jobs use both. Describe what you see and operators will say what they would send.
DisposalWho handles disposal of what comes out?
The operator hauls it away, but where it goes depends on what it is and on any site requirements. Ask each operator where the material will be taken and whether disposal is included in the price.
TrafficWho arranges traffic control?
On a public street the work usually needs a permit and traffic control, arranged by you or the operator depending on the quote. Say in your request if the work is on a public road so it is priced in.
WagesWhat about prevailing wage on public jobs?
Public works jobs often require prevailing wage, certified payroll and insurance certificates. Tell operators when you request quotes, and the form asks, so they can include the paperwork from the start.
AccessWhat if the structure is hard to reach?
Tell operators about alleys, gates, overhead lines or a long distance from the street. A vacuum truck needs room, and access changes how a job is quoted.
