What is a cave-in?

A cave-in occurs when groundwater infiltrates into a separated pipe joint or into a crack in a stormwater pipe and the groundwater carries soil with it. Over time, as the soil around the pipe infiltrates into the stormwater pipe, the ground surface or pavement above the pipe sinks. Cave-ins also occur around manholes and catch basins where pipes enter the structure, between the basin and the concrete lid, and where the installers of the basin failed to fill temporary weep holes in the walls of a basin.

Show All Answers

1. What is a cave-in?
2. What is the process?
3. How does the City prioritize the list of cave-ins to be repaired?
4. How much does it cost to repair a cave-in?
5. What is the City doing to prevent future cave-ins?
6. What should I do if I see a cave-in?