How to properly drain a site with your own hands

In some regions, groundwater is very close to the surface. So close that they threaten the integrity of buildings (their foundations) and prevent plantings from growing. All these problems are solved by site drainage. In general, this event is costly both in terms of the amount of funds required and the time required. A considerable part of the time is spent on planning. If you do everything wisely, then you need hydrogeological research data and a project drawn up by a specialist. But, as usual, only a few do this; the majority make the drainage system with their own hands.

Site drainage can be designed as an element of landscape design

Why is site drainage needed?

Excess moisture on the site creates big problems for owners not only with obtaining a bountiful harvest, but also with safe living in the house:

1. The accumulation of water at the base of the foundation provokes soil movement and can negatively affect the integrity of the building.

2. Mold appears in damp basements and gradually spreads throughout the house.
3. When the groundwater level is high, the wet soil “squeezes out” the septic tank and creates problems in the waste system.

   
   The septic tank was squeezed out by groundwater

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4. Overwatering leads to rotting of plant roots, which interferes with the normal growth of garden crops and has a detrimental effect on the harvest.
5. In an area with a strong slope, water flows wash away the fertile layer of soil.

All these troubles can be avoided if you properly equip the drainage system on the site.

Excess moisture can be caused by three categories of water. Surface – formed during rainfall that falls over a long period of time. Underground - have different levels of occurrence, the magnitude of which depends on the time of year. In winter, the water drops to the lower limit, and in the spring it rises to its maximum height. Verkhodka , this underground water does not manage to completely go into the soil, because an obstacle is encountered on its way - for example, a dense layer of clay.

Complex issues of land reclamation

In the past, issues of land reclamation - land improvement, involving the determination of necessary drainage or irrigation - were very relevant and widely discussed. Collective farms and state farms were professionally involved in improving the fertility of lands.

The measures taken brought significant results over large areas.

Now summer residents need to work independently to ensure that the site remains alive and does not turn into a swampy area. Turning to specialists is not a cheap pleasure.

But you should not despair, because from the materials described, with a reasonable approach, you can make a simple but effective drainage system yourself.

In what cases is drainage necessary?

There are several circumstances in which the arrangement of a drainage structure is considered a prerequisite:

1. The site is located on a plain. If there is a lot of precipitation in a short period of time or after a long winter the snow is actively melting, then the soil is oversaturated with moisture.
2. Low place. All the water drains from higher places and remains in the lowlands for a long time.
3. The site has a strong slope. Streams of water caused by heavy rains will wash away the top layer of soil, the most nutritious for plants. In such conditions it is impossible to count on a rich harvest.
4. Heavy loamy soil. It retains too much moisture in the surface layer, which in large quantities harms plants.
5. High groundwater level. In some areas, the aquifer is located very close to the surface of the earth.
6. Concrete platforms and paths made of paving slabs. Artificial coatings, which occupy a large area of ​​land on the site, interfere with the natural drainage of moisture.

It is preferable to carry out drainage at the initial stage of development of the site, when there are no buildings and trees have not been planted.

If the site is already landscaped, then the drainage system is carried out taking into account the location of objects and plants. Artificial drainage of water should not destroy the landscape.

Execution materials

Today, different materials are used to lay pipes in the ditch under the entrance to a summer cottage. Each type has its own characteristics, ability to withstand weight loads and service life. The main factor in choosing a product for drainage in this case is the fact that the pipe must have maximum rigidity and load-bearing capacity. Today, several varieties are chosen for drainage.

Metal

More often, steel pipes are used for these systems. They are characterized by strength and durability, although they are not sufficiently resistant to corrosion. On average, they can serve as a drainage system before entering for 30-40 years. In addition to their large diameter, such products have thick walls and are distinguished by their ability to withstand significant weight loads. Even with repeated passage of heavy equipment, they will not bend or become deformed. Therefore, the drainage will not be disturbed.

Concrete

This option is popular, despite the complexity of transporting the pipe itself, as well as its installation. A concrete pipe allows for significant water passage without destroying the road surface itself. These pipes are distinguished by their heavy weight and significant wall thickness. They weigh a lot, making their installation often impossible at home or requiring special lifts. The disadvantage of this material is its instability to destruction over time.

Reinforced concrete

These are pipes made of a steel frame, filled with concrete, compacted by centrifuge and vibrocompression. They have 2 categories with different load-bearing capacities (up to 6 and 10 m).

Plastic

Such pipes are corrugated, lightweight, and inexpensive. They are reliable, inert to rust and deformation. Their throughput and ring stiffness are quite high. Such pipes are characterized by safety; they are easy to install a drainage ditch. Their installation does not require special lifting equipment, and such pipes do not collapse over time.

Types of drainage

The deep method of water drainage is divided into several types according to the design solution:

1. Ray – narrow pipe beams are diverted from the central pipe along an inclined plane. Used in areas with dense buildings and dense plantings.

2. Wall-mounted - used to drain water from the walls of the house. The ditch is dug at a distance of at least one and a half meters and deepened 10 cm below the level of the basement floor. The system includes several wells and uses pumps to drain water from the site.

3. Ring is a complex method, because the drainage is located 30 cm below the groundwater level, and the pipes are buried around the house in the shape of a ring.

A budget option can be called point drainage . Recessed storm water inlets are installed next to roof gutters and covered with gratings. Catchments are also installed in recesses in the area where rainwater accumulates.

Useful tips

Here are answers to the most popular questions from readers regarding land reclamation and drainage structures.

1. What material is best to cover the area?

For a rise of 20-30 cm in a small area, fertile soil can be used. If a meter-long layer of bedding is required, the base is made of compacted sand, secondary crushed stone or broken brick is placed in the middle (for drainage), and soil is laid on top. On beds and lawns you can do without crushed stone; instead of soil, paths and platforms are sprinkled with excavated soil. Experts believe that it is better to place soil from the site down. This prevents the heavy crushed stone from sinking into the light sand or the light sand from sliding off the loam.

1. Are asbestos or used steel pipes suitable for closed deep drainage?

Schemes of drainage systems

Point drainage does not require drawing up a project and can be easily formed independently, without the involvement of specialists. As a rule, a simple scheme consists of a funnel, a water inlet and outlets, which, depending on the location of the “point,” are connected to a storm sewer or a closed drainage system.

To build point drainage, you must perform the following steps:

• dig a hole larger than the water intake;
• concrete the bottom with a layer of at least 10 cm;
• place the water intake in the prepared hole;
• connect it to the drainage system;
• the space between the outer walls of the water intake and the slopes of the pit should be concreted;
• Install a grate on top of the water inlet.

Note! The plane of the grating must be at least 5 cm below the ground surface.

Linear surface drainage is considered the most common method of water drainage. Along pre-marked lines, trenches are dug 50 cm wide and 60-70 cm deep. The walls are not made strictly vertical - the slope is 30 degrees. Slopes are reinforced with concrete slabs, gravel, metal mesh or artificial materials. To decorate the landscape, the trench walls are lined with geotextiles with the prospect of landscaping.

Linear deep drainage consists of a system of perforated pipes that converge to the main line, which has access to the water intake. And from it the water is removed to a deep place or pumped out. The structure is located at a depth of approximately 1-2 meters, the exact location is determined by the level of groundwater.

The process of installing a closed drainage boils down to the following steps:

• dig a trench;
• pour a layer of sand on the bottom;
• lay pipes wrapped in geotextiles;
• install drainage wells;
• covered with crushed stone;
• The removed turf is placed in place and compacted.

Classic methods of pipe arrangement are parallel straight lines, herringbone, snake or trapezoid. When constructing a diagram, the highest and lowest points on the terrain are calculated. To prevent water from stagnating, it is necessary to create a slope for the structure of pipes and wells, so the system is directed from the maximum height to the bottom.

Technology for installing drainage from the foundation of a house

Installation of a drainage system begins with the creation of its schematic image. The site plan indicates all elements, primarily the pipeline. It should be located around the perimeter of the entire building and the entire local area. Professional system installation crews often install pipelines using the herringbone pattern.

First, mark the location of the autonomous sewerage system or well where the water will be directed. From this location there is a direct line of the main drainage pipe to the building. The line is connected to a circle of pipes covering the entire perimeter of the foundation. Then branches follow from the main line, which forms a long and branched pipeline system.

Features of drainage in problem areas

There are situations when additional work needs to be done when installing a drainage system. This is due to the characteristics of the soil, the depth of groundwater and the degree of slope of the site. All these circumstances must be taken into account before starting drainage work.

If the water on the site does not drain for a long time after a snowy winter or heavy rains, then it is necessary to check at what level the groundwater . The easiest way is to drill a test well. To do this, take a garden drill with an extension and form several holes in the ground (in different places of the site, because the aquifer lies unevenly) to a depth of one to two meters.

If after 1-2 days the wells fill with water, this will indicate a high groundwater level. In this case, the drainage system must have extensive ramifications. A large amount of water cannot always quickly flow by gravity into the receiver, so sometimes it is necessary to install additional pumping equipment.

To drain water in areas located on a slope , two types of drainage are combined - open and closed. This is a necessary condition for preserving the top fertile layer, which can be washed away by water flowing down the ground. The well for collecting water is located at the lowest point in the area.

The traditional drainage design for a site with a slope is considered to be herringbone. If the area is very large, then it is advisable to supplement the drainage system with a transverse trench. The water from it should go directly into the lower well.

Water lingers for a long time on clay soils , which interferes with the normal growth and fruiting of plants. The roots rot from abundant moisture and the growth of garden crops stops. On such soil, combined drainage is used - deep and surface methods. Before filling the trenches with the first layer of sand or gravel, be sure to loosen the clay bottom.

Peat soil is characterized by a high level of groundwater. In spring, the puddles on the site do not dry out for a long time. The installation of a drainage system is considered a prerequisite for living on such a site; it makes it possible to grow crops and beautifully design the landscape. Perforated pipes are located in the longitudinal and transverse directions, the depth of the trenches for peat soils is 40-50 cm.

Price

If you have certain knowledge and experience, you can drain the site yourself. But only a well-planned drain will work correctly, draining the area in a timely and efficient manner. Only experienced specialists can eliminate many errors, correctly calculate angles of inclination and choose the optimal project in terms of material consumption. It is worth noting that drawing up a competent plan will help to avoid additional redevelopment in the future, which will significantly reduce the material costs of the owner of a personal plot.

It is best when drainage is designed together with the house Source domvpavlino.ru

The price of a finished drainage system project with installation depends on the size of the territory, the desired number of inspection wells, and the complexity of the terrain. The cost of installing a turnkey drainage system starts from 1,200 rubles per linear meter. Glubinogo - from 2700 rubles per linear meter.

Drainage project along the perimeter of the site - step-by-step instructions

Before drawing up a project, you need to know the features of the site:

1. Draw a plan with the exact location of all buildings, garden paths and gazebos. Take into account the places where external and underground communications pass.
2. Draw up a diagram with the dimensions of the foundations of buildings, especially carefully study the depth of their location.
3. Draw a topographic map indicating relief features.

To ensure that the components of the drainage system do not damage the roots of plants, the places for planting trees and shrubs are marked on the drawing.

An example of a closed drainage structure around the perimeter of a site

1. Determine the location of the natural water receiver - a road ditch or a natural reservoir.
2. Dig trenches 1-1.3 m deep and 40 cm wide along the perimeter of the site to lay main pipes with a diameter of 110 mm in them. The minimum distance for trenches from the fence is 50 cm, from the edge of the blind area of ​​the building - 100 cm.
3. Dig trenches 80 cm deep and 30 cm wide in the area for perforated pipes that collect water and transfer it to the main canals. For complete water drainage, it is necessary to maintain a slope of at least 1 cm per 1 linear meter. The gap between drains for clay soil is 8-10 meters.
4. Flush the channels with plenty of water. If the outflow rate is low, then it is necessary to increase the degree of slope; if water stagnates, additional drainage branches must be created.
5. After checking, fill the bottom with 10 cm of river sand and compact it.
6. Line the channels with geotextile, the density of which is 120-150 g/m2, and fill with crushed gravel with a fraction of 20-40 mm to a height of 5-10 cm.
7. To prevent siltation, pipes must be wrapped with geotextiles or volumetric filters made of coconut fiber.
8. Lay corrugated pipes and bring them to the main channels. When turning, connect the pipes to each other with fittings or crosses wrapped in geotextiles.
9. Fill the drainage structure with coarse sand or granite crushed stone of a fraction of 5-20 mm.
10. Fold the edges of the geotextile overlapping and cover the trench with turf.

When there is no natural water intake or artificial ravine, the collected water can flow into a storage well, which is installed in a low place on the site. If the terrain allows, then the water flows into the drainage receiver by gravity. Otherwise, pumping equipment is used to pump out water. To monitor the operation of the drainage structure and clean the pipes, inspection wells are created. They are located at turns and pipe intersections.

dizlandshafta

Criterias of choice

Which material to choose is up to everyone to decide for themselves. Usually the determining factor is not so much the material as the definition of the cross-section. It must be sufficient for the unhindered passage of groundwater and rainwater, even if there is plenty of it.

It is important to take into account measures to prevent clogging of the pipe itself (especially if the passage width is large). Since water carries debris and dirt with it, in addition to the pipes, it is necessary to take care of the grates

For this you can choose steel products.

Considering that concrete is destroyed, and reinforced concrete is labor-intensive to install, it is easier to build an embankment using a plastic corrugated pipe. This is the kind of material that beginners and those who plan to use special lifting equipment should choose. Its convenience is the fact that such a pipe can be cut independently without special stationary machines. However, plastic will need geotextiles, which will serve as a kind of filter, keeping out debris and dirt.

If you want to buy a plastic pipe, take into account the number of its layers and the mandatory presence of corrugation. There may be 1-2 of them. In this case, the second layer is corrugated. You cannot use a pipe made from recycled materials for a ditch. It has reduced strength and durability characteristics. Smooth plastic pipes are not suitable for installation. When choosing a pipe for a drain, you should consider 3 rules:

• budget;
• mechanical strength;
• ditch dimensions.

For example, when choosing a corrugated plastic product, you can press on the stiffening rib: if it does not return to its original shape, the product is not suitable for arranging a ditch. Plastic is better than other materials, since it does not retain debris that enters the pipe along with ground or rainwater. However, such a system must be hidden from UV rays, which can harm the plastic.

Reinforced concrete is monolithic; today such pipes are a generally accepted standard, and therefore are in demand. If you want to buy such a pipe, you should give preference to a product with water resistance class W6 and a low degree of water absorption (no more than 6% of the total weight). The minimum frost resistance class should be no lower than F200.

Rules of care

Drainage structures will function properly for many years if the basic rules are followed during operation:

• the top layer of soil must remain loose throughout the entire time so that moisture is absorbed as best as possible, which means moving heavy equipment directly over it should be prevented;
• collectors and wells must be regularly cleaned of contaminants, otherwise maintaining the system may be difficult;
• Pipelines should be cleaned every 10-15 years.

Inspection drainage well at the bend

The choice of cleaning method largely depends on the location of the drains and their design features. Contaminants from elements located on the surface can be removed manually without the involvement of professionals. If the components of the system are deepened into the ground, then the measures become more complicated. The work may require a special installation with a cleaning roller that can remove deposits from the internal surfaces of the pipes.

This pump can be used to clean drainage wells

Advantages and disadvantages of a storm drain

Drainage systems remove excess water from the site and thus prevent negative phenomena associated with excess moisture. The construction of a storm drain does not require special equipment or expensive materials; it is easy to do it yourself.

The disadvantages of drainage trenches include the need for regular cleaning, the fragility of the slopes and a short service life. In addition, the appearance of drainage systems is often unaesthetic and stands out against the background of the general landscape. You also need to remember that the efficiency of ditches, unlike other types of drainage, is relatively low.