By Alex, Vancouver Drainage Experts
So, last week I got a call from the office — Hans had booked me in for a camera inspection for a client in North Vancouver. It was one of those classic properties perched on the hillside, beautiful views and all, but with some pretty unique drainage challenges.
The homeowner is planning to build a new beach-style house down below the main house and needed a report for the city to show how stormwater is managed on the property. These inspections are always interesting because you never really know what you’re gonna find until you start feeding the camera through the pipes.
First Impressions – Solid Work Up Top
The drainage system around the main house was actually in great shape. Whoever did the work before knew what they were doing. It’s all 4-inch PVC and ABS piping — clean, tight, no signs of root intrusion or sagging. I always breathe a little easier when I see systems that are built to code and taken care of.
The Surprise Down the Hill
Things got interesting when I traced the system to the back of the house. All the water from the perimeter drains comes together into a 4″ Big-O pipe. Then — and this is the fun part — it runs about 150 feet down the slope behind the property and just… ends.
That’s right, the pipe basically spits the water out into the woods at the bottom of the hill. No proper termination, no city hookup. Which, to be honest, explains why the storm system isn’t showing up on any city plans
What This Means for the New Build
The good news is that the elevation drop is solid. We found the IC chamber for the sewer system and it’s low enough that with a proper gravity-fed sump, the new beach house can tie in a future drainage system.
But the bad news is that the current setup isn’t complete — it wasn’t designed with expansion in mind. So for the new construction, the contractor will need to install a full perimeter drain and rain leader system, plus that sump with a backwater valve (aka BWV) to connect safely into the existing sewer line.
Why This Inspection Was Important
Doing a camera inspection in North Vancouver like this gives everyone — homeowners, builders, even city inspectors — a clear look at what’s going on underground. Without this step, you could be guessing and possibly making big mistakes that cost thousands later.
And yeah, climbing down a snowy hill with 150 feet of cable isn’t exactly glamorous, but it’s satisfying to hand over a full drainage report that gives the homeowner real peace of mind and a solid plan forward.
Final Thoughts
If you’re building, renovating, or just curious about where your stormwater goes (or doesn’t go!), getting a camera inspection from Vancouver Drainage Experts is 100% worth it. We’ll find the weird stuff before it becomes a problem — and maybe even give you a good story out of it.
