Gutter The paved channel running along the curb line that collects stormwater runoff from the street and sidewalk and directs it toward a catch basin.
The gutter's grade, called the flow line, works together with a sidewalk's transverse slope to keep water moving off the pedestrian surface and into the drainage system rather than pooling near the curb. A sidewalk repair that ignores the existing flow line can create standing water or ponding right at the point where pedestrians step off the curb, which is why contractors check gutter grade as part of scoping drainage-related defects. Gutter maintenance itself is generally a city responsibility, separate from the adjacent sidewalk repair.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gutter
What is the gutter along a curb?
The paved channel running along the curb line that collects stormwater from the street and sidewalk and directs it toward a catch basin.
How does the gutter interact with sidewalk slope?
The gutter's flow line works with the sidewalk's transverse slope to move water off the walking surface and into the drainage system.
What goes wrong if gutter grade is ignored?
Water can pond right where pedestrians step off the curb, creating a slip hazard in wet weather and an ice hazard in winter.
Who maintains the gutter?
Gutter and roadway maintenance is generally a City responsibility, separate from the adjacent sidewalk repair.