Abstract: A system for the removal and disposal of debris from the water intake of power plants or the like is disclosed. The system includes a strainer basket having pivoted, separable sections movable from an abutting position to an open position; the sections are biased to the abutting position, in the preferred form, by gravitational forces acting upon the basket sections and their contents. The system further includes structure for opening the separable portions of the basket to empty the contents into a suitable disposal receptacle; a preferred opening device is a member adapted to be positioned on the debris-receiving receptacle and having cam surfaces for separating the basket sections. The system contemplates placement of the strainer basket in a bellow-ground location and a hoist for lifting the basket for emptying.