Drainage Systems and Construction from ACO

A fundamental but often forgotten part of construction: Drainage

How drainage works
Drainage is the removal of surface and sub-surface water from a particular area. The water can then be repurposed elsewhere to rivers, creeks and beach outlets to avoid saturation of land and damage to homes, commercial property and farm land. In particularly bad weather it is important that excess water is removed to avoid damage to buildings, potential flooding and hazards such as accidents caused by hydroplaning in vehicles.

Types of surface drainage
Surface drainage is the removal of water that collects on land surface. There are several ways in which to combat the collection of excess water via a surface drainage system. The main three to note are:

Stand Alone - These pits are placed at the point in which the trench drain system empties the water underground

Open Swales - An effective method that has been used for years, swales are open drainage channels that slow down passing water and absorb into the porous soil

Grated Trench Drains - This system employs an angled grade on both sides of a linear trench to move water and waste into a point in the channel which is then evacuated into an underground pipe.

Drainage in construction
Drainage is a fundamental part of construction, essential in roads and the urban environment to remove surface and sub-surface water. This must be factored into any type planning by the project team of civil engineers, construction managers, architects, site managers and surveyors.