Understanding the Types of Drainage Systems

Understanding the Types of Drainage Systems

Properly corralling and dispersing water runoff is important because we need it to water our vegetation without drowning it. Additionally, collected water is used to replenish a town’s freshwater supply. The longer water sits on a surface, the more susceptible it is to contamination. The types of drainage systems will allow you a better comprehension of their roles and how they work together.

Surface Drainage System

Surface drainage systems remove excess water from the land’s surface through channels or ditches. In some cases, the ground surface is shaped or graded to create sloping toward the channels. Different types of surfaces drainage systems are open drains, humps and hollows, levees, and grassed waterways. A cast-in-place trench drain is a perfect example of a surface drainage system.

Subsurface Drainage System

Subsurface drainage systems are implemented beneath the top layer of soil. Sometimes referred to as a French drain, they work at the root level to remove excess water. Dig ditches to install the pipes of subsurface drains. ABT sells a variety of subsurface drainage solution options based on the needs and the location of where the drain would be placed.

Slope Drainage System

Slope drainage systems are built to allow water to flow from a structure in a downward direction. It is done with the aid of pipes that move down through the slope. Since the installed pipe is anchored to an incline, it guides the water through the pipe to get it swiftly away from the structure.

Downspouts and Gutter Systems

Downspouts and gutter systems are a structure’s first defense against over-saturation from stormwater. They are often drained into an aluminum extension, buried drainpipe, rain barrel, or other solution. The purpose is to move water away and route water to other drainage systems on the street or sidewalk. Sometimes they are even connected to an underground sewer line using gutter drains or “underground drains”.

In understanding the types of drainage systems, you’ll see that often multiple types work together to remove water and guide it to an appropriate place. The faster water is removed from a structure or area in which pooling can occur, the better. Drainage systems are an essential part of water conservation and preservation that people rarely think about.