If you ask any experienced builder, developer, or landscape designer about what needs to be done, first of all, on a newly acquired and not yet developed plot, the answer will be unequivocal: the first thing is drainage, if there is a need for it. And such a need almost always happens. Site drainage is always associated with a very large volume earthworks, so it’s better to do them right away, so as not to disturb the beautiful landscape that any good owners arrange in their possessions.

Of course, the easiest way is to order site drainage services from specialists who will do everything quickly and correctly, using special equipment. However, this will always come at a cost. Perhaps the owners did not plan for these expenses; perhaps they will violate the entire budget planned for the construction and improvement of the site. In this article, we propose to consider the question of how to do the drainage of a site with your own hands, as this will allow you to save a lot of money, and in most cases it is quite possible to do this work yourself.

Why is site drainage needed?

Looking through estimates and price lists related to site drainage, some developers begin to doubt the feasibility of these measures. And the main argument is that before, in principle, no one “bothered” much with this. With this argument for refusing to drain the site, it is worth noting that the quality and comfort of human life has greatly improved. No one wants to live in dampness or in a house with earthen floors. No one wants to see cracks on their home, blind areas and paths that appear after another cold season. All homeowners want to improve their property or, to put it in a modern and fashionable way, to do a landscape design. After the rain, no one wants to “knead mud” in stagnant puddles. If this is the case, then drainage is definitely needed. You can do without it only in very rare cases. We will explain in what cases a little later.

Drainage? No, I haven't heard...

Drainage is nothing more than the removal of excess water from the surface of a site or from the depths of the soil. Why is site drainage needed?

• First of all, in order to remove excess water or from the foundations of buildings and structures. The appearance of water in the area of ​​the base of the foundation can provoke either soil movement - the house will “float”, which is typical for clay soils, or in combination with freezing, frost heaving forces may appear, which will create efforts to “squeeze” the house out of the ground.

• Drainage is designed to remove water from basements and basements. No matter how effective the waterproofing is, excess water will still seep through building construction. Basements in homes without drainage can become damp, which can encourage the growth of mold and other fungi. In addition, precipitation in combination with salts present in the soil very often form aggressive chemical compounds that negatively affect building materials.

• Drainage will prevent the septic tank from being “squeezed out” when the groundwater level is high. Without drainage, a wastewater treatment system will not last long.
• Drainage together with the system and around buildings ensures quick removal water, preventing its seepage to the underground parts of buildings.
• Drainage prevents the soil from becoming waterlogged. In areas equipped with properly planned and constructed drainage, water will not stagnate.
• Waterlogged soil can cause plant roots to rot. Drainage prevents this and creates conditions for the growth of all garden, vegetable and ornamental plants.
• With heavy rainfall in areas that have a slope, the fertile layer of soil can be washed away by streams of water. Drainage directs water flows into the drainage system, thereby preventing soil erosion.

Water erosion of fertile soil in the absence of drainage is a serious problem in agriculture

• If the site is surrounded by a fence built on a strip foundation, then it can “seal” natural water drainage routes, creating conditions for waterlogging of the soil. Drainage is designed to remove excess water from the perimeter of the site.
• Drainage allows you to avoid the formation of puddles on platforms, sidewalks and garden paths.

When drainage is necessary anyway

Let's consider those cases when drainage is needed in any case:

• If the site is located on flat terrain, then drainage is required, since if there is a large amount of precipitation or snow melts, the water will simply have nowhere to go. According to the laws of physics, water always goes under the influence of gravity to a lower place, and on a flat landscape it will intensively saturate the soil in a downward direction, which can lead to waterlogging. So, from a drainage point of view, it is beneficial for the site to have a slight slope.
• If the site is located in a lowland, then drainage is definitely needed, since water will flow from higher places to those located below.
• Areas with a strong slope also require drainage, since quickly flowing water will erode the top fertile layers of the soil. It is better to direct these flows into drainage channels or pipes. Then the bulk of the water will flow through them, preventing the soil layer from being washed away.
• If the site is dominated by clay and heavy loamy soils, then after precipitation or melting snow, water will often stagnate on them. Such soils prevent its penetration into the deeper layers. Therefore, drainage is required.
• If the groundwater level (GWL) in the area is less than 1 meter, then drainage cannot be avoided.

• If the buildings on the site have a deeply buried foundation, then there is a high probability that its base will be in the zone of seasonal rise of groundwater. Therefore, it is necessary to plan drainage at the stage of foundation work.
• If a significant part of the site area is covered with artificial surfaces made of concrete, paving stones or paving slabs, and also if there are lawns equipped with an automatic watering system, then drainage is also needed.

From this impressive list, it becomes clear that drainage to one degree or another is necessary in most cases. But before planning and doing it, you need to study the site.

Studying the site for topography, soil type and groundwater level

Each site is individual in terms of topography, soil composition and groundwater level. Even two areas located nearby can be very different from each other, although there will still be a lot in common between them. Modern construction requirements suggest that the design of a house should begin only after geological and geodetic surveys have been carried out with the preparation of special reports, which will contain a lot of data, most of which is understandable only to specialists. If we “translate” them into the language of ordinary citizens who do not have an education in the field of geology, hydrogeology and geodesy, then they can be listed as follows:

• Topographic survey of the area where it is proposed. The photographs must indicate the cadastral boundaries of the site.
• Characteristics of the relief, which should indicate what type of relief is present on the site (undulating or flat). If there are slopes, then their presence and direction are indicated; it is in their direction that the water will flow. Attached is a topographic plan of the site indicating the relief contours.

• Characteristics of the soil, what type of soil it is and at what depth it lies on the site. To do this, specialists drill exploration wells in different places on the site, from where they take samples, which are then examined in the laboratory.
• Physico-chemical properties of soil. Its ability to be load-bearing for the planned house, as well as as soil in combination with water, will affect concrete, metal and other building materials.
• The presence and depth of groundwater, their seasonal fluctuations, taking into account exploration, archival and analytical data. It is also indicated in which soils water can appear and how they will affect the planned building structures.

• The degree of soil heaving, the possibility of landslides, subsidence, flooding and swelling.

The result of all these studies should be recommendations on the design and depth of the foundation, the degree of waterproofing, insulation, protection from aggressive chemical compounds, and drainage. It happens that on a seemingly impeccable plot of land, specialists will not allow you to build the house that the owners intended. For example, a house with a basement was planned, and the high ground level forces experts to recommend against doing this, so instead of the originally planned strip foundation with a basement, they will recommend a pile foundation without underground premises. There is no reason not to trust these studies and specialists, since they have indisputable tools in their hands - measurements, drilling, laboratory experiments, statistics and calculations.

Of course, geological and geodetic surveys are not done for free, they are done at the expense of the developer and are required on a new site. This fact is often the subject of indignation by some owners, but it is worth understanding that this procedure will help save a lot of money during the construction and further operation of the house, as well as in maintaining the site in good condition. Therefore, this seemingly unnecessary and expensive bureaucracy is necessary and very useful.

If a plot of land is purchased with existing buildings that have been in use for at least several years, then you can also order geological and geodetic surveys, but you can do without them and learn about groundwater, its seasonal rise and the unpleasant impact on human life based on other signs. Of course, this will come with a certain amount of risk, but in most cases it works. What you should pay attention to?

• First of all, this is communication with the former owners of the site. It is clear that it is not always in their interests to talk in detail about problems with flooding, but, nevertheless, you can always find out whether any drainage measures have been taken. They will not hide this for anything.
• An inspection of the basement can also tell a lot. Regardless of whether cosmetic repairs were made there. If there is a high level of humidity in the premises, it will be immediately felt.

• Getting to know your neighbors and interviewing them can be much more informative than communicating with the former owners of the property and house.
• If there are wells or boreholes on your property and on your neighbors’ property, then the water level in them will eloquently indicate the groundwater level. Moreover, it is advisable to observe how the level changes in different seasons. Theoretically, the water should rise to its maximum in the spring after the snow has melted. In summer, if there have been dry periods, the groundwater level should drop.
• Plants growing on a site can also “tell” a lot to the owner. The presence of plants such as cattail, reed, sedge, horse sorrel, nettle, hemlock, and foxglove indicate that groundwater is at a level of no more than 2.5-3 meters. If even during a drought these plants continue their rapid growth, this once again indicates the proximity of water. If licorice or wormwood grow on the site, then this is evidence that the water is at a safe depth.

• Some sources talk about an ancient method of determining the groundwater level that our ancestors used before building a house. To do this, a piece of turf was removed from the area of ​​interest and a shallow hole was dug, a piece of wool was placed at the bottom, an egg was placed on it, and an inverted clay pot and the removed turf were covered on top. After dawn and sunrise, they removed the pot and watched as the dew fell. If the egg and wool are covered in dew, then the water is shallow. If dew has fallen only on the wool, then there is water, but it is at a safe depth. If both the egg and the wool are dry, then the water is very deep. It may seem that this method is akin to quackery or shamanism, but in fact there is an absolutely correct explanation for it, from the point of view of science.
• The growth of bright grass in the area even during a drought, as well as the appearance of fog in the evening hours, indicates the proximity of groundwater.
• The best way to do it yourself GWL definitions Test wells are being drilled on the site. To do this, you can use a regular garden auger with extensions. It is better to drill during the highest water rise, that is, in the spring after the snow melts. First of all, wells should be made at the site of construction of a house or an existing structure. The well must be drilled to the depth of the foundation plus 50 cm. If water begins to appear in the well immediately or after 1-2 days, this indicates that drainage measures are required.

A beginner's research geologist's kit - a garden auger with an extension cord

• If puddles stagnate in the area after rain, this may indicate the proximity of groundwater, as well as the fact that the soil is clayey or heavy loamy, which prevents water from going deeper normally. In this case, drainage is also necessary. It will also be very useful to update the fertile soil to a lighter one, then there will be no problems with growing most garden and garden plants will not be.

Even a very high groundwater level in the area, although a big problem, is a problem that can be solved with the help of well-calculated and well-executed drainage. Let's give a good example - more than half of the territory of Holland lies below sea level, including the capital - the famous Amsterdam. The groundwater level in this country can be several centimeters deep. Those who have been to Holland have noticed that after rain there are puddles there that are not absorbed into the ground, since there is simply nowhere for them to be absorbed. However, in this cozy country, the issue of land drainage is being resolved through a set of measures: dams, dikes, polders, locks, and canals. In Holland there is even a special department, Waterschap, which deals with flood protection. The abundance of windmills in this country does not mean that they grind grain. Most mills are involved in pumping water.

We do not at all encourage you to specifically purchase a site with a high groundwater level; on the contrary, this should be avoided by all possible means. And the example of Holland was cited only so that readers could understand that there is a solution to any problem with groundwater. Moreover, in most of the territory of the former USSR, settlements and holiday villages are located in areas where groundwater levels are within acceptable limits, and seasonal rises can be dealt with independently.

Types of drainage systems

There are a great variety of drainage systems and their varieties. Moreover, in different sources their classification systems may differ from each other. We will try to talk about the simplest, from a technical point of view, drainage systems, but at the same time effective, which will help solve the problem of removing excess water from the site. Another argument in favor of simplicity - than fewer elements any system has, and the more time it can operate without human intervention, the more reliable it will be.

Surface drainage

This type of drainage is the simplest, but nevertheless quite effective. It is intended mainly for draining water coming in the form of precipitation or melting snow, as well as for draining excess water in case of any technological processes, for example, when washing cars or garden paths. Surface drainage is done in any case around buildings or other structures, areas, exit points from a garage or yard. Surface drainage comes in two main types:

• Point drainage designed to collect and drain water from a specific place. This type of drainage is also called local drainage. The main locations for point drainage are under roof gutters, in pits in front of doors and garage doors, and in locations where irrigation taps are located. In addition to its direct purpose, point drainage can complement another type of surface drainage system.

Storm water inlet is the main element of point surface drainage

• Linear drainage needed to remove water from larger area compared to point. It represents a collection trays And channels, mounted with a slope, equipped with various elements: sand traps (sand traps), protective grilles , performing filtering, protective and decorative functions. Trays and channels can be made from the most different materials. First of all, it is plastic in the form of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene low pressure(PND). Materials such as concrete or polymer concrete are also widely used. Grates are most often used in plastic, but in areas where increased load is expected, products made of stainless steel or even cast iron can be used. Work on organizing linear drainage requires concrete preparation grounds.

It is obvious that any good surface drainage system almost always combines elements of point and linear. And they all come together into common system drainage, which may also include another subsystem, which we will consider in the next section of our article.

Prices for rainwater inlets

storm drain

Deep drainage

In most cases, surface drainage alone cannot be done. To solve the problem qualitatively, we need another type of drainage - deep, which is a system of special drainage pipes (drains) , laid in those places where it is necessary to lower the groundwater level or divert water from the protected area. Drains are laid with a slope to the side collector, well , artificial or natural reservoir on the site or beyond. Naturally, they are laid below the level of the base of the foundation of the protected building or along the perimeter of the site at a depth of 0.8-1.5 meters to lower the groundwater level to non-critical values. Drains can also be laid in the middle of the site at a certain interval, which is calculated by specialists. Typically, the interval between pipes is 10-20 meters, and they are laid in the form of a herringbone, directed towards the main outlet pipe-collector. It all depends on the groundwater level and its quantity.

When laying drains in trenches, it is imperative to take advantage of all the features of the site’s topography. Water will always flow from a higher place to a lower place, so drains are laid the same way. It is much more difficult if the area is absolutely flat, then the required slope is given to the pipes by adding a certain level to the bottom of the trenches. It is customary to make a slope of 2 cm per 1 meter of pipe for clay and loamy soils and 3 cm per 1 meter for sandy soils. Obviously, with sufficiently long drains, it will be difficult to maintain the required slope on a flat area, since for 10 meters of pipe the level difference will already be 20 or 30 cm, so a necessary measure is to organize several drainage wells that will be able to receive the required volume of water.

It should be noted that even with a smaller slope, water, even at 1 cm per 1 meter or less, will still, obeying the laws of physics, try to go lower, but the flow rate will be less, and this can contribute to silting and clogging of drains. And any owner who has laid sewer or drainage pipes at least once in his life knows that maintaining a very small slope is much more difficult than a large one. Therefore, you should not be “embarrassed” in this matter and feel free to set a slope of 3, 4 and even 5 cm per meter of drainage pipe, if the length and planned difference in depth of the trench allows.

Drainage wells are one of the most important components of deep drainage. They can be of three main types:

• Rotary wells – arranged where drains make a turn or where several elements are connected. These elements are needed for inspection and cleaning of the drainage system, which must be done periodically. They can be either small in diameter, which will only allow cleaning and rinsing with a stream of water under pressure, but they can also be wide, which provide human access.

• Water intake wells – their purpose is absolutely clear from their name. In those areas where there is no possibility of draining water deeper or beyond, it becomes necessary to collect water. This is exactly what these wells are designed for. Previously, they were mainly a structure made of monolithic concrete, concrete rings or brick plastered with cement mortar. Now most often used plastic containers of various volumes, which are protected from clogging or silting by geotextiles and crushed stone or gravel. The water collected in the water intake well can be pumped outside the site using special submersible drainage pumps, can be pumped out and transported by tanker trucks, or can settle in a well or pool for further irrigation.

• Absorption wells designed to drain water if the topography of the site does not allow moisture to be removed beyond its boundaries, but the underlying soil layers have good absorbency. Such soils include sandy and sandy loam. Such wells are made with large diameters (about 1.5 meters) and depths (at least 2 meters). The well is filled with filter material in the form of sand, sand and gravel mixture, crushed stone, gravel, broken brick or slag. To prevent eroded fertile soil or various blockages from entering from above, the well is also covered with fertile soil. Naturally, the side walls and bottom are protected with sprinkling. Water entering such a well is filtered by its contents and goes deep into sandy or sandy loam soils. The ability of such wells to remove water from the site may be limited, so they are installed when the expected throughput should not exceed 1-1.5 m 3 per day.

Of the drainage systems, the main and most important is deep drainage, since it is this that provides the necessary water regime both the site and all buildings located on it. Any mistake in the design and installation of deep drainage can lead to very unpleasant consequences, which can lead to the death of plants, flooding of basements, destruction of house foundations, and uneven drainage of the area. That is why it is recommended not to neglect geological and geodetic research and order a drainage system design from specialists. If it is possible to correct flaws in surface drainage without severely disturbing the landscape of the site, then with deep drainage everything is much more serious, the cost of an error is too high.

Well prices

Overview of components for drainage systems

To independently carry out the drainage of the site and the buildings located on it, you need to find out what components will be required for this. From the widest selection of them, we tried to show the most used ones at present. If previously the market was dominated by Western manufacturers, who, as monopolists, dictated high prices for their products, now a sufficient number of domestic enterprises offer their products, which are in no way inferior in quality.

Surface Drainage Parts

The following parts can be used for point and linear surface drainage:

Image	Name, manufacturer	Purpose and description
	Concrete drainage tray 1000*140*125 mm with stamped galvanized steel grating. Production - Russia.	Created for surface drainage water. Capacity 4.18 l/sec, can withstand loads of up to 1.5 tons (A15).	880 rub.
	Concrete drainage tray with cast iron grate, dimensions 1000*140*125 mm. Production - Russia.	The purpose and capacity are the same as in the previous example. Capable of supporting loads up to 25 tons (C250).	1480 rub.
	Concrete drainage tray with galvanized steel mesh grating, dimensions 1000*140*125 mm. Production - Russia.	The purpose and capacity are the same. Capable of supporting loads up to 12.5 tons (B125).	1610 rub.
	Polymer concrete drainage tray 1000*140*70 mm with a plastic grid. Production - Russia.	The purpose is the same, throughput 1.9 l/sec. Capable of withstanding loads up to 1.5 tons (A15). The material combines the advantages of plastic and concrete.	820 rub.
	Polymer concrete drainage tray 1000*140*70 mm with cast iron grate. Production - Russia.	The throughput is the same. Capable of withstanding up to 25 tons of load (C250).	1420 rub.
	Polymer concrete drainage tray 1000*140*70 mm with steel mesh grating. Production - Russia.	The throughput is the same. Capable of withstanding up to 12.5 tons of load (B125).	1550 rub.
	Plastic drainage tray 1000*145*60 mm with a galvanized stamped grid. Production - Russia.	Made from frost-resistant polypropylene. Flow rate 1.8 l/sec. Capable of withstanding loads up to 1.5 tons (A15).	760 rub.
	Plastic drainage tray 1000*145*60 mm with cast iron grate. Production - Russia.	Flow rate 1.8 l/sec. Capable of supporting loads up to 25 tons (C250).	1360 rub.
	Complete plastic storm water inlet (siphon-partitions 2 pcs., waste basket – 1 pc.). Size 300*300*300 mm. With plastic grille. Production - Russia.	Designed for point drainage of water flowing from the roof through a drainpipe, and can also be used to collect water under yard and garden watering taps. Can be connected to shaped parts with diameters of 75, 110, 160 mm. Removable basket allows for quick cleaning. Withstands loads up to 1.5 tons (A15).	For a set including siphon partitions, a waste collection basket and a plastic grill - 1000 rubles.
	Complete plastic storm water inlet (siphon-partitions 2 pcs., waste basket – 1 pc.). Size 300*300*300 mm. With cast iron grate “Snowflake”. Production - Russia.	The purpose is similar to the previous one. Withstands loads up to 25 tons (C250).	For a set including siphon partitions, a waste collection basket and a cast iron grate - 1,550 rubles.
	The sand trap is plastic with a galvanized steel grid. Dimensions 500*116*320 mm.	Designed to collect dirt and debris in surface linear drainage systems. It is installed at the end of a line of gutters (trays) and is subsequently connected to the pipes of the storm sewer system with a diameter of 110 mm. Capable of withstanding loads up to 1.5 tons (A15).	For a set including grilles 975 rubles.

In the table we intentionally showed trays and storm water inlets Russian production, made from materials different from each other and having different configurations. It is also worth noting that the trays have different widths and depth and, accordingly, their throughput is also not the same. There are a lot of options for the materials from which they are made and sizes; there is no need to list them all, since it depends on many factors: the required throughput, the expected load on the ground, the specific implementation scheme of the drainage system. That is why it is best to entrust drainage system calculations to specialists who will calculate the required size, quantity, and select components.

There was absolutely no need to talk about possible components for drainage trays, rain inlets and sand traps in the table, since in each individual case they will be different. When purchasing, if there is a system design, the seller will always suggest the ones you need. They can be end caps for trays, fastenings for gratings, various corner and transition elements, reinforcing profiles and others.

A few words should be said about sand traps and storm water inlets. If surface linear drainage around the house is implemented with rainwater inlets in the corners (and this is usually done), then sand traps will not be required. Stormwater inlets with siphon partitions and waste baskets perform their role perfectly. If the linear drainage does not have storm inlets and goes into a sewer drainage pipe, then a sand trap is required. That is, any transition from drainage trays to pipes must be done either using a storm inlet or a sand trap. Only this way and no other way! This is done to ensure that sand and various heavy debris do not get into the pipes, as this can lead to their rapid wear, and over time both they and the drainage wells will become clogged. It is difficult to disagree with the fact that it is easier to periodically remove and wash the baskets while on the surface than to go down into the wells.

Surface drainage also includes wells and pipes, but they will be discussed in the next section, since, in principle, they are the same for both types of systems.

Details for deep drainage

Deep drainage is a more complex engineering system that requires more details. In the table we present only the main ones, since all their diversity will take up a lot of space and attention of our readers. If you wish, it will not be difficult to find catalogs of manufacturers of these systems and select the necessary parts and components for them.

Image	Name and manufacturer	Purpose and description	Approximate price (as of October 2016)
	Drainage pipe with a diameter of 63 mm made of HDPE, corrugated, single-walled, in a geotextile filter. Manufacturer: Sibur, Russia.	Designed to remove excess moisture from foundations and areas. Wrapped with geotextile to prevent clogging of pores with soil and sand, which prevents clogging and silting. They have full (circular) perforation. Made from low-density polyethylene (HDPE). Hardness class SN-4. Laying depth up to 4 m.	For 1 m.p. 48 rub.
	Drainage pipe with a diameter of 110 mm made of HDPE, corrugated, single-walled, in a geotextile filter. Manufacturer: Sibur, Russia.	similar to above	For 1 m.p. 60 rub.
	Drainage pipe with a diameter of 160 mm made of HDPE, corrugated, single-walled, in a geotextile filter. Manufacturer: Sibur, Russia.	similar to above	For 1 m.p. 115 rub.
	Drainage pipe with a diameter of 200 mm made of HDPE, corrugated, single-walled, in a geotextile filter. Manufacturer: Sibur, Russia.	similar to above	For 1 m.p. 190 rub.
	Single-wall corrugated HDPE drainage pipes with a coconut coir filter with diameters of 90, 110, 160, 200 mm. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed to remove excess moisture from foundations and areas on clay and peaty soils. Coconut coir has increased reclamation properties and strength compared to geotextiles. They have circular perforation. Hardness class SN-4. Laying depth up to 4 m.	219, 310, 744, 1074 rub. for 1 m.p. (depending on diameter).
	Double-layer drainage pipes with a Typar SF-27 geotextile filter. The outer layer of HDPE is corrugated, the inner layer of LDPE is smooth. Diameters 110, 160, 200 mm. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed to remove excess moisture from foundations and areas on all types of soils. They have full (circular) perforation. The outer layer protects from mechanical influences, and the inner layer allows, due to its smooth surface, to remove a larger amount of water. The two-layer design has a stiffness class of SN-6 and allows pipes to be laid at a depth of up to 6 meters.	160, 240, 385 rub. for 1 m.p. (depending on diameter).
	PVC pipes for sewerage are smooth with a socket with an outer diameter of 110, 125, 160, 200 mm, length 1061, 1072, 1086, 1106 mm, respectively. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed for organizing an external sewer system, as well as storm drainage or drainage systems. They have a hardness class of SN-4, which allows them to be laid at a depth of up to 4 meters.	180, 305, 270, 490 rub. for pipes: 110*1061 mm, 125*1072 mm, 160*1086 mm, 200*1106 mm, respectively.
	Well shafts with a diameter of 340, 460, 695, 923 mm made of HDPE. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed to create drainage wells (rotary, water intake, absorption). They have a two-layer construction. Ring stiffness SN-4. Maximum length– 6 meters.	950, 1650, 3700, 7400 rub. for wells with diameters of 340, 460, 695, 923 mm, respectively.
	The bottom-plug of wells with diameters of 340, 460, 695, 923 mm is made of HDPE. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed for creating drainage wells: rotary or water intake.	940, 1560, 4140, 7100 for wells with diameters of 340, 460, 695, 923 mm, respectively.
	Insertion into the well on site with diameters of 110, 160, 200 mm. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed for insertion into a well at any level of sewer or drainage pipes of appropriate diameters.	350, 750, 2750 rub. for inserts with diameters of 110, 160, 200 mm, respectively.
	Polymer concrete hatch for drainage wells with a diameter of 340 mm. Country of origin: Russia.		500 rub.
	Polymer concrete hatch for drainage wells with a diameter of 460 mm. Country of origin: Russia.	Designed for installation on drainage wells. Withstands loads of up to 1.5 tons.	850 rub.
	Polyester geotextile with a density of 100 g/m². Country of origin: Russia.	Used to create drainage systems. Not susceptible to rotting, mold, rodents and insects. Roll length from 1 to 6 m.	20 rub. for 1 m².

From the presented table it can be seen that the cost of even Russian-made parts for drainage systems can hardly be called cheap. But the effect of their use will please the owners of the site for at least 50 years. This is the service life that the manufacturer claims. Considering that the material used to make drainage parts is absolutely inert with respect to all substances found in nature, we can assume that the service life will be much longer than stated.

We deliberately did not include previously widely used asbestos-cement or ceramic pipes in the table, since apart from high prices and difficulties in transportation and installation, they will not bring anything. This is yesterday's century.

To create drainage systems, there are many more components from various manufacturers. These include tray parts, which can be throughput, connecting, prefabricated and dead-end. They are designed to connect drainage pipes various diameters with wells. They provide drainage pipe connections at different angles.

In front of everyone obvious advantages tray parts with sockets for pipes, the price for them is very high. For example, the part shown in the figure above costs 7 thousand rubles. Therefore, in most cases, the taps into the well indicated in the table are used. Another advantage of cut-ins is that they can be made at any level and at any angle to each other.

In addition to those parts for drainage systems that are indicated in the table, there are many others that are selected according to calculations and during installation on site. These may include various cuffs and O-rings, couplings, tees and crosses, check valves for drainage and sewer pipes, eccentric transitions and necks, bends, plugs and much more. Their correct selection should be done, first of all, during design, and then adjustments should be made during installation.

Video: How to choose a drainage pipe

Video: Drainage wells

If readers find articles on drainage on the Internet that say that it is easy to make drainage with your own hands, then we advise you to immediately close this article without reading it. Making drainage with your own hands is not an easy task. But the main thing is that this is possible if you do everything consistently and correctly.

Design of the site drainage system

The drainage system is a complex engineering object that requires appropriate treatment. Therefore, we recommend that our readers order site drainage design from professionals who will take into account absolutely everything: the topography of the site, existing (or planned) buildings, soil composition, groundwater depth, and other factors. After design, the customer will have a set of documents on hand, which includes:

• Plan of the site with its relief.
• A diagram for laying pipes for wall or ring drainage, indicating the cross-section and type of pipes, depth, required slopes, and location of wells.
• A drainage diagram of the site also indicating the depth of the trenches, types of pipes, slopes, distance between adjacent drains, location of rotary or water intake wells.

It will be difficult to make a detailed design of a drainage system on your own without knowledge and experience. This is why you should turn to professionals

• A diagram of surface point and linear drainage indicating the size of trays, sand traps, storm water inlets, sewer pipes used, and the location of water intake wells.
• Transverse dimensions of trenches for wall and deep drainage, indicating the depth, material and thickness of the filling, and the type of geotextile used.
• Calculation of necessary components and materials.
• Explanatory note for the project, describing the entire drainage system and technology for performing the work.

The design of a site drainage system costs significantly less than an architectural design, so we once again strongly advise you to contact specialists. This minimizes the likelihood of errors when independent arrangement drainage

Home wall drainage equipment

To protect the foundations of houses from the effects of groundwater, so-called wall drainage is made, which is located around the entire house from the outside at some distance from the base of the foundation. usually it is 0.3-0.5 m, but in any case no more than 1 meter. Wall drainage is done at the stage of building a house along with measures for insulation and waterproofing of the foundation. When is this type of drainage necessary anyway?

Prices for drainage systems

• When the house has a ground floor.

• When the buried parts of the foundation are located no more than 0.5 meters above the groundwater level.
• When a house is built on clay or loamy soils.

All modern house designs almost always include wall drainage. The only exceptions can be those cases when the foundation is laid on sandy soils that do not freeze more than 80 cm.

A typical wall drainage design is shown in the figure.

At some distance from the base of the foundation, approximately 30 cm below its level, a leveling layer of sand of 10 cm is made, on which a geotextile membrane with a density of at least 150 g/m² is laid, on which is poured a layer of crushed stone of a fraction of 20-40 mm with a thickness of at least 10 cm. Instead of crushed stone, washed gravel can be used. It is better to use granite crushed stone, but not limestone, since the latter tends to be gradually eroded by water. A drainage pipe wrapped in geotextile is laid on a crushed stone bed. The pipes are given the required slope - at least 2 cm per 1 linear meter of pipe.

Inspection and inspection wells must be made at the places where the pipe turns. The rules allow them to be done every other turn, but practice suggests that it is better not to skimp on this and to place them at every turn. The slope of the pipes is made in one direction (in the figure from point K1, through points K2 and K3, to point K4). In this case, it is necessary to take into account the terrain. It is assumed that point K1 is at the highest point, and K4 at the lowest.

Drains are inserted into wells not from the very base, but with an indentation of at least 20 cm from the bottom. Then the small debris or silt that gets in will not linger in the pipes, but will settle in the well. Later, when inspecting the system, you can wash away the silty bottom with a strong stream of water, which will carry away everything unnecessary. If the soil in the area where the wells are located has good absorption capacity, then the bottom is not made. In all other cases, it is better to equip wells with a bottom.

A layer of crushed stone or washed gravel with a thickness of at least 20 cm is again poured over the drains, and then it is wrapped with a previously laid geotextile membrane. On top of such a “wrapped” structure from a drainage pipe and crushed stone, a backfill of sand is made, and on top, after compacting it, a blind area of ​​the building is already organized, which is also intended to be used, but in a system of surface linear drainage. Even if atmospheric water enters from the outside of the foundation, after passing through the sand, it will enter the drains and through them will eventually flow into the main collector well, which can be equipped with a pump. If the terrain of the site allows, then an overflow without a pump is made from the collector well, removing water beyond the boundaries into a drainage ditch, an artificial or natural reservoir or a storm sewer system. Under no circumstances should drainage be connected to a regular sewer system.

If groundwater begins to “back up” from below, then it first of all saturates the sand preparation and crushed stone in which the drains are located. The speed of water movement through the drains is higher than in the ground, so the water is quickly removed and drained into a collector well, which is laid lower than the drains. It turns out that inside a closed loop of drainage pipes, water simply cannot rise above the level of the drains, which means both the base of the foundation and the floor in the basement will be dry.

This wall drainage scheme is very often used and works very effectively. But it has a significant drawback. This is backfilling the entire cavity between the foundation and the edge of the pit with sand. Considering the considerable volume of the sinus, you will have to pay a tidy sum for this filling. But there is a beautiful way out of this situation. To avoid backfilling with sand, you can use a special profiled geomembrane, which is a canvas made of HDPE or LDPE with various additives, having a relief surface in the form of small truncated cones. When the underground part of the foundation is covered with such a membrane, it performs two main functions.

• The geomembrane itself is an excellent waterproofer. It prevents moisture from penetrating the walls of the underground foundation structure.
• The textured surface of the membrane ensures that the water that appears on it flows freely downwards, where it will be “caught” by the installed drains.

The design of wall drainage using a geomembrane is shown in the following figure.

On the outer wall of the foundation, after installation and insulation (if necessary), a geomembrane is glued or mechanically fastened with the relief part (pimples) facing outwards. A geotextile fabric with a density of 150-200 g/m² is fixed on top of it, which will prevent clogging of the relief part of the geomembrane with soil particles. Further organization of drainage proceeds as usual: a drain lined with crushed stone and wrapped in geotextile is placed on a layer of sand. Only the sinuses are filled not with sand or crushed stone, but with ordinary soil taken out when digging a pit or with clay, which is significantly cheaper.

The drainage of water “propping up” the foundation from below proceeds as in the previous case. But water that enters the wall from the outside through moistened soil or penetrates into the gap between the foundation and the soil will follow the path of least resistance: seep through geotextiles, flow freely along the relief surface of the geomembrane, pass through crushed stone and end up in the drain. Foundations protected in this way will not be threatened for at least 30-50 years. The basement floors of such houses will always be dry.

Let's consider the main stages of creating a wall drainage system for a house.

Image	Description of actions
	After the construction of the foundation, its initial coating, and then roll waterproofing and insulation, a geomembrane is glued onto the outer wall of the foundation, including its base, with the help of a special mastic that does not corrode polystyrene foam, with the relief part facing outward. The upper part of the membrane should protrude beyond the level of the future backfill by at least 20 cm, and the lower part should reach the very bottom of the foundation, including the base.
	The joints of most geomembranes have a special lock that is “locked” by overlapping one sheet over the other and then tapping it with a rubber mallet.
	A geotextile fabric with a density of 150-200 g/m² is attached on top of the geomembrane. It is better to use thermally bonded geotextiles rather than needle-punched ones, since they are less susceptible to clogging. Disc-shaped dowels are used for fixation. The dowel fastening spacing is no more than 1 m horizontally and no more than 2 m vertically. The overlap of adjacent geotextile sheets on each other is at least 10-15 cm. Disc-shaped dowels should be located at the joint.
	In the upper part of the geomembrane and geotextile, it is recommended to use a special mounting strip, which will press both layers to the foundation structure.
	The bottom of the pit with outside the foundation is cleaned to the required level. The level can be controlled by a theodolite with a measuring bar, a laser level and a handy wooden bar with marked marks, tensioned and adjusted using a hydraulic level with a tensioned cord. You can also “beat off” a horizontal line on the wall and measure the depth using a tape measure.
	Washed sand is poured onto the bottom in a layer of at least 10 cm, which is moistened with water and compacted mechanically or manually until there are practically no traces left when walking.
	Inspection wells are installed in the designated locations. To do this, it is enough to use shafts with a diameter of 340 or 460 mm. Having measured the required length, they can be cut with either a regular hacksaw, or a jigsaw, or reciprocating saw. Initially, the wells must be cut 20-30 cm longer than the estimated length, and later, when designing the landscape, they must be adjusted to fit it.
	Bottoms are installed on wells. To do this, in single-layer wells (for example, Wavin), a rubber cuff is placed in the edge of the body, then it is lubricated with a soap solution and the bottom is installed. It should go in with force.
	In Russian-made two-layer wells, before installing the cuff, it is necessary to cut out a strip of the inner layer with a knife, and then do the same as in the previous case.
	The wells are installed in their intended places. The areas for their installation are compacted and leveled. On their side surfaces, marks are made for the entrance and exit of the drain centers (taking into account slopes of 2 cm per 1 linear meter of pipe). We remind you that the inlets and outlets of the drains must be at least 20 cm from the bottom.
	To make it easier to insert couplings, it is better to place the wells horizontally and make holes using a crown and a centering drill corresponding to the coupling. If you don't have a crown, you can make holes with a jigsaw, but this requires certain skills.
	After this, the edges are cleared of burrs with a knife or brush.
	The outer rubber sleeve of the coupling is placed inside the hole. It should go inside the well and stay outside equally (about 2 cm each).
	The inner surface of the rubber cuff of the coupling is lubricated with soap solution and then inserted plastic part all the way. The junction of the rubber part of the coupling to the well can be coated with waterproof sealant.
	The wells are installed in their places and aligned vertically. Geotextiles are spread on a sand bed. Granite crushed stone of a fraction of 5-20 mm or washed gravel is poured onto it in a layer of at least 10 cm. The required slopes of the drainage pipes are taken into account. The crushed stone is leveled and compacted.
	Perforated drainage pipes are measured and cut the right size. The pipes are inserted into couplings cut into the wells after lubricating the cuff with soapy water. Their bias is checked.
	A layer of crushed stone or gravel of at least 20 cm is poured on top of the drains. Then the edges of the geotextile fabric are wrapped on top of each other and sprinkled with a 20 cm layer of sand on top.
	In the designated location, a pit is dug for the collector well of the drainage system. Its level, naturally, must be below the lowest drain in order to receive water from the wall drainage. To this pit, from the lower level inspection and inspection well, a trench is dug for laying sewer pipe.
	Shafts with diameters of 460, 695 and even 930 mm can be used as a collector well. A prefabricated well made of reinforced concrete rings can also be installed. Inserting a sewer pipe into a receiving collector well is done in exactly the same way as drains.
	The sewer pipe leading from the lower level of the wall drainage well to the collector well is laid on a 10 cm sand cushion and sprinkled with sand of at least 10 cm thickness on top. After compacting the sand, the trench is filled with soil.
	The system is checked for functionality. To do this, water is poured into the highest level well. After filling the bottom, water should begin to flow through the drains into other wells and, after filling their bottoms, eventually flow into the collector well. None reverse current there shouldn't be.
	After checking the functionality, the sinuses between the edge of the pit are filled with soil. It is preferable to use quarry clay for this, which will create a waterproof castle around the foundation.
	The wells are covered with lids to prevent clogging. Final trimming and installation of covers should be done in conjunction with landscaping work.

A collector drainage well can be equipped with a check valve, which, even if it overflows, does not allow water to flow back into the drains. And also in the well there can be an automatic one. When the groundwater level increases to critical values, water will collect in the well. The pump is configured so that when a certain level in the well is exceeded, it will turn on and pump water outside the site or into other containers or reservoirs. Thus, the groundwater level in the foundation area will always be lower than the laid drains.

It happens that one collector well is used for wall and surface drainage systems. Experts do not recommend doing this, since during intense snow melting or heavy rains a lot of snow will accumulate in a short time. a large number of water, which will only interfere with inspecting the water supply system in the area of ​​the foundation. It is better to collect water from precipitation and melted snow in separate containers and use it for irrigation. If storm wells overflow, water from them can be pumped to another location in the same way using a drainage pump.

Video: Wall drainage at home

House ring drainage equipment

Ring drainage, unlike wall drainage, is not located close to the foundation structure, but at some distance from it: from 2 to 10 meters or more meters. In what cases is ring drainage suitable?

• If the house has already been built and any intervention in the foundation structure is undesirable.
• If the house does not have a basement.
• If a house or group of buildings is built on sandy or sandy loam soils, which have good permeability to water.
• If other types of drainage fail to cope with the seasonal rise of groundwater.

Regardless of the fact that ring drainage is much simpler in practical implementation, the attitude towards it should be more serious than towards wall drainage. Why?

• A very important characteristic is the depth of the drains. In any case, the depth of the foundation must be greater than the depth of the base of the foundation or the level of the basement floor.
• The distance from the foundation to the drain is also an important characteristic. The sandier the soil, the greater the distance should be. And vice versa - the more clay the soil, the closer the drains can be located to the foundation.
• When calculating the ring foundation, the groundwater level, its seasonal fluctuations and the direction of its inflow are also taken into account.

Based on all of the above, we can safely say that it is better to entrust the calculation of ring drainage to specialists. It would seem that the closer the drain is to the house and the deeper it is laid, the better it will be for the structure being protected. It turns out not! Any drainage changes the hydrogeological situation in the area of ​​the foundation, which is not always good. The task of drainage is not to completely dry the area, but to lower the groundwater level to such values ​​that will not interfere with human and plant life. Drainage is a kind of agreement with the forces of Mother Nature, and not an attempt to “rewrite” existing laws.

One of the options for constructing a ring drainage system is shown in the figure.

It can be seen that around the house, already outside the blind area, a trench has been dug to such a depth that the upper part of the drainage pipe lies 30-50 cm below the bottom point of the foundation. The trench is lined with geotextile and the pipe itself is also encased in it. The minimum underlying layer of crushed stone must be at least 10 cm. The minimum slope of drains with a diameter of 110-200 mm is 2 cm per 1 linear meter of pipe. The picture shows that the entire trench is filled with rubble. This is completely acceptable and does not contradict anything other than common sense, in terms of unnecessary spending.

The diagram shows that the inspection and control wells are installed through one turn, which is quite acceptable if the drainage pipe is laid in one piece, without any fittings. But it’s still better to do them at every turn. This will make servicing the drainage system much easier over time.

A ring drainage system can “get along” perfectly with a surface point and linear drainage system. In one trench drains can be laid at the lower level, and next to them or on top in a layer of sand sewer pipes can be laid leading from trays and storm water inlets to a well for collecting rain and melt water. If the path of both leads to the same collector drainage well, then this is generally wonderful; the amount of excavation work is reduced significantly. Although, let us remind you that we recommended collecting these waters separately. They can be collected together only in one case - if all the water from precipitation and extracted from the ground is removed (naturally or forcibly) from the site into a collective storm sewer system, drainage ditch or reservoir.

When organizing ring drainage, a trench is first dug to the calculated depth. The width of the trench in the area of ​​its bottom must be at least 40 cm; the bottom of the trench is immediately given a certain slope, the control of which is most convenient with a theodolite, and in its absence, a cord stretched horizontally and a measuring rod from available means will help.

Washed sand is poured onto the bottom in a layer of at least 10 cm, which is carefully compacted. Obviously, it is impossible to do this in a narrow trench using a mechanized method, so a manual tamper is used.

Installation of wells, insertion of couplings, backfilling crushed granite or gravel, laying and connecting drains is done in exactly the same way as when organizing wall drainage, so there is no point in repeating it. The difference is that with ring drainage, it is better to fill the trench after crushed stone and geotextiles not with soil, but with sand. Only the top fertile soil layer of approximately 10-15 cm is poured. Then, when landscaping the site, the places where drains are laid are taken into account and trees or shrubs with a strong root system are not planted in these places.

Video: Drainage around the house

Surface point and linear drainage equipment

As in all cases, a surface drainage system can only be successfully installed if there is a project or at least a self-made plan. On this plan, it is necessary to take into account everything - from water intake points to the container where rain and melt water will be drained. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the slopes of pipelines and trays, the direction of movement along the trays.

A surface drainage system can be installed on an existing blind area, paths made of paving slabs or paving stones. It is possible that some of their parts will have to be interfered with, but this still will not require complete dismantling. Let's consider an example of installing a surface drainage system using the example of polymer concrete trays and sand traps (sand traps) and sewer pipes.

To carry out the work you will need a very simple set of tools:

• Scoop and bayonet shovels;
• Construction bubble level from 60 cm long;
• Bench hammer;
• Rubber hammer for laying tiles or paving stones;
• Construction marking cord and a set of wooden stakes or pieces of reinforcement;
• Trowel and spatulas;
• Roulette;
• Construction knife;
• Chisel;
• Angle grinder (grinder) with discs of at least 230 mm for stone and metal;
• Container for preparing solutions.

We present the further process in the form of a table.

Image	Process description
	Considering the surface drainage plan or project, it is necessary to determine the water discharge points, that is, those places where water collected from the surface will go into the sewer pipeline leading to the drainage well. The depth of this pipeline must be laid below the depth of soil freezing, which for most populated climatic zones of Russia is 60-80 cm. It is in our interests to minimize the number of discharge points, but to ensure the required drainage capacity.
	Discharge of water into the pipeline must be done either through sand traps or through storm water inlets to ensure filtering of debris and sand. First of all, it is necessary to provide for their connection using standard shaped elements of external sewerage to the pipeline and try on these elements at the installation site.
	Connecting rainwater inlets located under drainpipes It is better to provide in advance, even at the stage of arranging wall drainage, so that when the snow melts during thaws and the off-season, the water flowing from the roofs immediately gets into the underground pipeline and does not freeze in the trays, blind areas and paths.
	If it is not possible to install sand traps, then you can connect the sewer pipeline directly to the trays. For this purpose, polymer concrete trays have special technological holes that allow connecting a vertical pipeline.
	Some manufacturers have special baskets attached to the vertical water discharge, which protect the drainage system from clogging.
	Most plastic trays except vertical connection They may also have a lateral one. But this should be done only when there is confidence in the purity of the discharged water, since it is much more difficult to clean drainage wells and catchment containers than baskets.
	To install surface drainage elements, you first need to select soil to the required depth and width. To do this, with an existing lawn, the turf is cut to the required width, which is defined as the width of the element being installed plus 20 cm - 10 cm on each side. It may be necessary to dismantle curbs and outer rows of paving slabs or paving stones.
	In depth for installing drainage elements, it is necessary to select soil equal to the depth of the element plus 20 cm. Of these, 10 cm for sand or crushed stone preparation, and 10 cm for a concrete base. The soil is removed, the base is cleaned and compacted, and then a backfill is made of crushed stone of a fraction of 5-20 mm. Then the pegs are driven in and the cord is pulled, which will determine the level of the trays to be installed.
	Elements of surface drainage are tried on at the installation site. In this case, the direction of water flow, which is usually indicated on the side surface of the trays, should be taken into account.
	Holes are made in the drainage elements for connecting sewer pipes. In plastic trays this is done with a knife, and in polymer concrete trays with a chisel and hammer.
	When fitting parts, it may be necessary to cut off part of the tray. Plastic ones are easily cut with a hacksaw, and polymer concrete ones with a grinder. Galvanized metal grates are cut with metal shears, and cast iron grates are cut with a grinder.
	End caps are installed on the last trays using a special adhesive-sealant.
	To install surface drainage elements, it is best to use ready-made dry mixtures of sand concrete M-300, which are available from many manufacturers. A solution is prepared in a suitable container, which should be dense in consistency. It is better to install from the discharge points – sand traps. Concrete is laid on the prepared base.
	Then it is leveled with a trowel and a sand trap is installed on this pad.
	Then it is aligned along the previously stretched cord. If necessary, press the tray into place using a rubber hammer.
	Check the correct installation using the cord and level.
	Trays and sand traps are positioned so that when the grate is installed, its plane is 3-5 mm below the surface level. Then the water will flow freely into the trays, and the grilles will not be damaged by car wheels.
	The leveled sand trap is immediately fixed on the sides with concrete mixture. A so-called concrete heel is formed.
	Similarly, drainage trays are installed on the concrete base.
	They are also aligned both by cord and level.
	After installation, the joints are sealed with a special sealant, which is always offered when purchasing trays.
	Experienced installers can apply sealant before installing the trays, applying it to the ends before installation.
	When installing plastic trays into concrete, they may become deformed. Therefore, it is better to install them with installed grilles, which, to avoid contamination, are best wrapped in plastic film.
	If the surface is flat and has no slopes, then ensuring the required slope of the trays will be problematic. The way out of this situation is to install a cascade of trays of the same width but different depths.
	After installing all the surface drainage elements, a concrete heel is formed, and then paving stones or paving slabs are installed in place, if they were dismantled. The surface of the paving stones should be 3-5 mm higher than the grid of the drainage tray.
	Between the paving stones and the trays it is necessary to make expansion joint. Instead of the recommended rubber cords, you can use a strip of roofing felt folded in half and sealant.
	After the concrete has set, after 2-3 days you can backfill the excavated soil.
	After compacting the soil, the previously removed layer of turf is laid on top. It needs to be laid 5-7 cm higher than the rest of the lawn surface, as over time it will compact and settle.
	After flushing the entire surface drainage system and checking its performance, the trays, rainwater inlets and sand traps are closed with grates. It is possible to subject elements to vertical load only after 7-10 days.

When operating a surface drainage system, it is necessary to periodically clean storm water inlets and sand traps. If necessary, you can remove the protective grilles and wash the trays themselves with a strong stream of water. Water collected after rains or melting snow is most suitable for later use for watering the garden, vegetable garden or lawns. Groundwater collected by a deep drainage system may have a different chemical composition and they cannot always be used for the same purposes. Therefore, we once again remind and advise our readers to collect groundwater and atmospheric water separately.

Video: Installation of a drainage system

Equipment for deep drainage of the site

We have already described in what cases deep drainage of a site is needed and found out that it is almost always needed in order to forever forget about the problems of stagnant puddles, constant dirt or the death of various plants that cannot tolerate waterlogged soils. The difficulty of equipping deep drainage is that if the site has already been landscaped, trees and shrubs have been planted, and there is a well-groomed lawn, then this order will have to be disrupted at least partially. Therefore, we recommend immediately organizing a deep drainage system on newly acquired plots for construction. As in all other cases, the design of such a drainage system must be ordered from specialists. Independent incorrect calculation and execution of the drainage system can lead to the fact that waterlogged areas on the site will be adjacent to dry ones.

In areas with pronounced topography, a drainage system can become a beautiful part of the landscape. To do this, an open canal or network of canals is organized through which water can freely flow beyond the site. Storm drains from the roof can also be directed into the same channels. But readers will certainly agree with the authors that the presence of a large number of channels will bring more inconvenience than benefits from their contemplation. That is why closed-type deep drainage is most often equipped. Opponents of deep drainage may argue that such systems can lead to excessive drainage of fertile soil, which will negatively affect plants. However, any fertile soils have very good and useful property- they retain exactly as much water in their thickness as is necessary, and plants growing on soils take from it exactly as much water as is necessary for their root system.

The main guiding document for organizing a drainage system is a graphic plan of the drainage system, which indicates everything: the location of collector and storage wells, the cross-section of drainage pipes and their depth, the cross-section of the drainage trench and other useful information. An example of a drainage system plan is shown in the figure.

Let's consider the main stages of creating deep drainage of the site.

Image	Process description
	First of all, the site is marked, in which the position of the main elements of the drainage system is transferred from the plan to the terrain. The routes of the drainage pipes are marked with a tensioned cord, which can immediately be pulled either horizontally or with a slope, which should be in each of the sections.
	A pit is being dug for storage drainage well required depth. The bottom of the pit is compacted and 10 cm of sand is poured and compacted onto it. The body of the well is tried on in place.
	A trench is dug in the direction from the well towards the beginning of the main collector pipe, the bottom of which is immediately given the required slope specified in the project, but not less than 2 cm per 1 linear meter of pipe. The width of the trench near the bottom is 40 m. The depth depends on the specific project.
	From the collector trench, trenches are dug for drains that will be connected to the collector pipe. The bottom of the trenches is immediately given the required slope. The width of the trenches in the bottom area is 40 cm. The depth is according to the project. On clay and loamy soils, the average depth of drains is 0.6-0.8 meters, and on sandy soils - 0.8-1.2 meters.
	The locations of rotary and collector inspection manholes are being prepared.
	After checking the depth and required slopes, 10 cm of sand is poured onto the bottom of all trenches, which is subsequently wetted and compacted manually.
	Geotextiles are lined at the bottom of the trenches so that they extend onto the side walls. Depending on the depth of the trench and the width of the geotest fabric, it is fixed either on the walls of the trench or on top.
	The wells are installed and tried on in their places, the places where the couplings are inserted are marked. Then the wells are removed and the necessary couplings are cut into them to connect the drains, and the bottoms are mounted.
	The wells are installed in their places and leveled. A layer of granite crushed stone or washed gravel with a fraction of 20-40 mm and a thickness of 10 cm is poured into the trench. The crushed stone layer is compacted and the necessary slopes are created.
	The required sections of drainage pipes are cut off and equipped with plugs (if necessary). In most cases, beam drains are made from pipes with a diameter of 110 mm, and collector drains – 160 mm. The pipes are laid in trenches and connected to well couplings and fittings. Their depth and slopes are checked.
	A 20 cm layer of crushed stone or washed gravel is poured over the drains. After compaction crushed stone layer covered with geotextiles previously fixed to the walls of the trenches or on top.
	The drainage system is checked for functionality. To do this, in various places where drains are laid, a large amount of water is poured into the trenches. Its absorption into the crushed stone layer and flow through rotary, collector wells and into the main drainage well are controlled.
	A layer of sand is poured over the geotextile, at least 20 cm thick. The sand is compacted, and on top of it the trenches are filled with fertile soil - 15-20 cm.
	Covers are put on the wells.

Even if deep drainage of the site was done without a project, it is still necessary to draw up a plan to indicate the location of the drains and their depth. This will help in the future, when carrying out any excavation work, to leave the system undamaged. If the terrain allows, then drainage wells may not be installed, and the water collected by drains is immediately sent to sewers, reservoirs or a collective storm sewer system. Any of these steps must be coordinated with neighbors and village administrations. But a well is still desirable, at least to control the groundwater level and its seasonal fluctuations.

A collector well for collecting groundwater can be made overflow. When the water level in such wells becomes higher than the overflow pipe, some of the water flows through the sewer pipe into another storage well. Such a system allows you to get clean water in the storage well, since all the dirt, silt and debris settles in the collector overflow well.

When famous thinkers, called great, whose sayings are constantly quoted and cited as examples, put their thoughts on paper, they probably did not even suspect that they were writing about deep drainage. Here are some examples:

• A collective image of a thinker who is known to most people, like Kozma Prutkov, said: “Look at the root!” Great phrase about deep drainage! If the owner wishes to grow on his plot garden trees, then you simply must know where the groundwater lies, since its excess in the area of ​​the root system has a bad effect on most plants.
• The very famous thinker and “wisdom generator” Oscar Wilde also said, without knowing it, about deep drainage: “The biggest vice in a person is superficiality. Everything that happens in our lives has its own deep meaning.”
• Stanislaw Jerzy Lec said the following about depth: “A swamp sometimes gives the impression of depth.” This phrase fits drainage perfectly, since without it the area may well turn into a swamp.

We can give many more quotes from great people and connect them with drainage, but we will not distract the readers of our portal from the main idea. For the safety of homes and the comfort of their inhabitants, creating ideal conditions for the growth of necessary plants, and arranging a cozy landscape, drainage is definitely needed.

Conclusion

It should be noted that residents of most regions of Russia are incredibly lucky if the issue of drainage is raised. An abundance of water, especially fresh water, is much better than a lack of it. Residents of arid and desert regions, having read such an article, would sigh and say: “We would like your problems!” Therefore, we simply must consider ourselves lucky that we live in a country that does not lack fresh water.

As we have already noted, you can always “negotiate” with water using the drainage system. The modern market abundance offers a simply gigantic assortment of various components, allowing you to create a system of any complexity. But in this matter one must be very selective and careful, since excessive complexity of any system reduces its reliability. Therefore, we again and again recommend ordering a drainage project from specialists. And the independent implementation of site drainage is within the capabilities of any good owner, and we hope that our article will help in some way.

The problem of flooding and increased soil moisture is familiar to owners of plots located in the central region of Russia. Dampness and stagnation of water after the snow melts do not allow proper preparation of the summer cottage for summer season, and waterlogging of the soil with constant precipitation is detrimental to many plants. There are several ways to solve these problems, but the most effective is the arrangement of drainage.

In what cases is a drainage system necessary?

Drainage is a technology for collecting and discharging groundwater, melt and storm water from a site, technical and residential buildings. The drainage system prevents leaching, heaving and waterlogging of the soil, which occurs due to oversaturation with moisture.

Arrangement of a drainage system is not necessary at every site. In order to determine how much your area needs drainage, you will need to conduct a visual inspection. Pay attention to whether the area is flooded after the snow melts, how quickly water is absorbed after watering the plants, whether there are puddles after heavy rain and downpour. If you have observed these signs more than once, then drainage is required.

The drainage system helps remove stagnant water from the site

If visual confirmation is not enough, then you can conduct a simple experiment - using a hand drill or an ordinary shovel, you should dig a hole 70–100 cm deep. It is better to do this in several places on the site. If after 24–36 hours water accumulates at the bottom of the hole and does not leave, then this is direct evidence of oversaturation of the soil with moisture.

Soil drainage is carried out under the following conditions:

• high groundwater table;
• the site is located in an area with clay soil;
• the site is located in a lowland or vice versa - on a slope;
• The location of the site receives a large amount of precipitation.

The presence of drainage helps preserve the finishing and facing materials used for laying garden paths, finishing the basement and façade of the building.

Types of dehumidification systems

There are a great variety of land drainage systems. Moreover, in different sources their classification may differ greatly from each other. In the case of drainage systems for suburban and summer cottages, it is recommended to use the simplest and most proven solutions.

Surface type drainage

Surface drainage is the simplest and most efficient system. The main task is to drain the soil by draining water formed as a result of rainfall and uneven melting of snow.

Grids protect the open drainage system from large debris

A surface drainage system is constructed across the area of ​​the site, around the house and adjacent buildings, near garage structures, warehouses and the courtyard. Surface drainage is divided into two subtypes:

1. Point - in some sources referred to as local drainage. Used to collect and drain water from a certain place on the site. The main area of ​​application is drainage of areas under drains, approx. entrance doors and gates, in the area where containers and watering taps are located. Often used as an emergency system if another type of drainage is overloaded.
2. Linear - used to drain the entire area. It is a system consisting of receiving trays and channels arranged at a certain angle, ensuring a constant flow of water. The drainage system is equipped with filter grids and sand traps. Trays and drains are made of PVC, polypropylene, HDPE or polymer concrete.

When installing a surface drainage system, it is recommended to combine point and linear drainage. This will provide the most effective work systems. If necessary, point and linear drainage can be combined with the system described below.

Deep drainage

Deep drainage is carried out in the form of a pipeline laid in places where constant drainage of the soil or lowering of the groundwater level is necessary. Drains are laid with a slope in the direction of water flow, which enters a collector, well or reservoir located outside the site.

The process of constructing deep drainage in a suburban area

To lower the groundwater level, pipes are laid along the perimeter of the site to a depth of 80–150 cm. In cases where it is necessary to drain water from the foundation of a building, pipes must be laid below its depth. And also drainage pipes can be laid over the entire area of ​​the site with a certain pitch. The distance between drains depends on the depth of their placement and the mechanical composition of the soil.

For example, when installing a drainage system, when drains are laid to a depth of 0.9–1 m, the recommended distance between them is at least 9–11 m. On loamy soil under the same conditions, the step between drains is reduced to 7–9 m, and on clayey up to 4–5.5 m. More detailed data for different laying depths can be seen in the table below. Information taken from the book “Draining land for gardens” by A.M. Dumblyauskas.

Depth of drains, m	Distance between drains, m
	Sandy soil	Loamy soil	Clay soil
0,45	4,5–5,5	4–5	2–3
0,6	6,5–7,5	5–6,5	3–4
0,9	9–11	7–9	4–5,5
1,2	12–15	10–12	4,5–7
1,5	15,5–18	12–15	6,5–9
1,8	18–22	15–18	7–11

When laying the pipe, the features of the terrain are observed. According to the technology, drains are laid from the highest to the lowest point on the site. If the area is relatively flat, then to impart a slope, a slope is formed along the bottom of the trench. The minimum slope level is 2 cm per 1 running meter of drainage pipe when constructing drainage in clay and loamy soil. For sandy soil a slope of 3 cm per 1 m is maintained.

When installing long drainage, a minimum slope along the entire length of the drainage route must be observed. For example, for a drainage system 15 m long, the minimum level difference between the starting and ending points of the route will be at least 30 cm.

If possible, it is recommended to exceed the stated slope standards. This will ensure faster drainage and reduce the risk of silting and clogging of the drain. In addition, digging a trench with a large slope is much easier than measuring 1–2 cm.

Drainage in a summer cottage - the simplest methods with instructions

In order to independently drain a plot of land using a drainage system, you will need to familiarize yourself with the technology of work, calculate and purchase the necessary materials, prepare tools and a place to perform the work.

Surface drainage of a summer cottage

Open surface drainage is a universal solution for draining small dacha plots. For example, for typical plots of 6 acres. You can take the diagram below as a basis. It shows a herringbone-shaped drainage route. The distance between the drains, as stated above, is selected based on the type of soil (see table).

An example of the location of the drainage system in a summer cottage

To carry out the work you will need a shovel and bayonet shovel, tape measure, bubble level, hammer and sharp construction knife. The materials you will need to prepare are gravel of fraction 20–40, geotextiles, edged bars or boards 2–3 m long.

To construct surface drainage on a summer cottage, you will need to do the following:

Sometimes, the base of the trench is concreted along the entire length of the drainage route. This allows you not to worry that over time the earthen walls will begin to crumble, water flow will deteriorate, etc. But this approach is more labor-intensive and requires the ability to work with concrete mixture.

Draining the area using deep drainage

Deep drainage is a standard solution for draining suburban and suburban areas. A deep drainage system can be installed even when there is protective blind area, concrete or slab paths. If necessary, they can be partially dismantled, but the overall structure will not be damaged.

An example of a drainage system project in a suburban area

Work on the construction of deep drainage includes the following:

1. According to the design plan of the site, it is necessary to draw up a diagram of the location of drainage pipes and determine the water discharge point, that is, the place from which collected water will drain into sewer pipes leading to a drainage well. The depth of the pipeline must be below the freezing level of the soil. For the North-Western region this value is about 60–80 cm.

   Preparation of trenches for the construction of deep drainage

2. Taking into account the plan, a trench is dug along the perimeter and area of ​​​​the site with a depth of up to 1 m. The width of the trench is at least 30 cm. All horizontal sections of the trenches are combined into a single system, which is brought to the water discharge point. After this, trenches are dug maintaining a slope of 2–4 cm per 1 m of surface. To check the quality of the drainage, the trenches are spilled with a large volume of water. If necessary, the slope towards the drainage well increases.

   The pit for the drainage well must be dug at the lowest point on the site

3. At the lowest point of the site, a place is created for the installation of a water intake or filter drainage well. For large areas located on loamy and clayey soil types, it is better to install cumulative types wells with a volume of up to 1000 liters. For small areas, you can use both storage and filter wells. The type of tank is selected based on the type of soil.

   A wide sheet of geotextile is laid on top of the gravel layer.

4. Fine gravel is poured into the bottom of the trench. The thickness of the layer is 10 cm. A geofabric is laid on the gravel with an overlap on the walls of the trench. To fix the canvas to the walls, wooden or plastic pegs are used, which are driven into the ground. After this, a 10 cm layer of crushed stone with a fraction of 50–60 is poured onto the laid geotextile and carefully leveled in compliance with the slope. A drainage pipe from Ø 110 mm is laid on the crushed stone.
5. Modular inspection wells are installed at the drain turning points. The diameter and height of the well depend on the expected volume of wastewater. To connect the pipe to the mounting hole, a coupling is used, which is coated with a waterproof sealant before joining. Similar actions are carried out to connect the drainage pipe to the well pipe.

   An inspection drainage well is installed in places where the drainage pipe turns

6. Before backfilling, the drainage system is checked for functionality. To do this, a large volume of water is drained through drains. If the water quickly drains and enters the well, then everything is done correctly and you can move on to the final stage. In other cases, you need to find and fix the problem.
7. A 20–30 cm layer of gravel of fraction 20–40 is poured over the drainage pipes and carefully leveled. After this, the drains with laid crushed stone are covered with geotextiles. A 10–15 cm layer of quarry sand is poured on top of the geofabric and thoroughly compacted. The remaining space in the trench can be filled with fertile soil or regular soil from the site.

Methods for drying an area without drainage

Excessive moisture in the soil and stagnation of water in the area are not always associated with high groundwater levels. Sometimes this occurs due to abnormally low temperatures and heavy precipitation. The combination of these factors leads to the fact that moisture does not have time to evaporate, and puddles and mold form on the soil surface.

Sanding clay soil is one of the ways to drain an area without drainage

If, due to some circumstances, it is impossible to install a drainage system, then there are several effective ways to drain the land:

Of the above methods for drying an area, the most effective are adding sufficient quantity fertile soil and arrangement of trenches around the perimeter. On average, 1 m 3 of soil will cost 550–600 rubles. For a plot of 6 acres, 10–12 m3 of soil is sufficient.

The easiest way to drain the soil on a site

Construction of shallow trenches filled with crushed stone is the easiest way to drain a summer cottage. Despite its overall simplicity, this method is very effective and can cope with large amounts of water formed during snow melting.

Work on arrangement of trenches around the perimeter and area of ​​the site includes the following:

If desired, the second layer of crushed stone can be reduced, and the remaining space can be covered with soil from the site. This will hide the drainage under a layer of turf. It is not recommended to plant flowers and greenery on top of the drainage trench. This is fraught with their death due to the high humidity in this place.

How to clear a clogged drain pipe

Failure to comply with the technology for laying drainage pipes is the main reason for stagnation and poor drainage of water from distribution wells. In addition, very often stagnation of water is not associated with a blockage at all. Insufficient slope does not ensure constant and uniform drainage of accumulated water towards the drainage pit.

To clear small blockages, use a steel cable or a hose with strong water pressure.

The easiest way to unclog drain pipes is to use a steel cable drain cleaner. At one end of the cable there is a spiral-shaped nozzle, at the other there is a handle with which you can rotate the cable, creating a mechanical load at the site of the blockage.

To clean pipes Ø110 mm or more, it is recommended to use a cable with steel brush appropriate size. During the cleaning process, it is necessary to lower the cable into the drainage pipe until its end reaches the blockage. Next, by rotating the cable clockwise, you need to try to break through the blockage or move it towards draining the water. Usually, small accumulations of silt and leaves can be pushed through without much difficulty.

If it was not possible to remove the blockage, then you will need to call specialists who, using a pneumatic installation and other equipment, will not only clear the blockage, but also carry out preventive cleaning of the entire surface of the drainage pipes.

Video: do-it-yourself site drainage

Oversaturation of the soil with moisture and stagnation of water on the site are a big problem, which affects not only the growth of fruit-bearing crops, but also reduces the service life of a residential building. But it is worth remembering that excess water can be dealt with using a drainage system. It is much worse if there is enough fresh water and moisture, and the construction of a well is impossible due to certain circumstances.

Drainage is a system of underground channels, called drains, through which groundwater and flood waters are removed and lowered. Drainage is an extensive system of pipes and wells that are located around or along a building or area protected from moisture. Pipes can be equipped with special filters that prevent the system from silting and allow you to do without cleaning the drainage for a long time.

Selected and designed in accordance with the requirements:

• sufficient water capacity;
• strength when exposed to backfill soil and dynamic loads;
• resistance to aggressive groundwater;
• ease of installation and operation of drainage.

To the greatest extent, these requirements are met by single-layer and double-layer plastic pipes made of low-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene high density(NDPE). Depending on the material and design, they belong to different stiffness classes.

The choice of drainage pipe design is determined by the application conditions and operating requirements.

The dimensions of the water inlet openings of the drainage pipes should be selected taking into account the granulometric composition of the soil to be drained. This requirement should be taken into account when choosing pipes presented on the modern construction market with various options for drainage slots.

Traditional designs are single-layer pipes with a smooth or (more often) corrugated surface, which increases the strength of the pipe, maintains its flexibility and increases the water-capturing area of ​​the drainage holes. Modern designs are two-layer and even multi-layer pipes. The latter are effective at high dynamic loads and depths of the protected object.

In double-layer pipes, the inner wall is smooth, and the outer shell is corrugated, securely bonded to the inner layer. Thanks to the smooth inner wall, the speed of water flow increases and the conductivity of the pipe increases. The presence of an outer corrugated shell makes the pipe structure resistant to impact deformation, which is especially important when transporting and installing pipes in winter conditions. Such pipes are distinguished by their high water-draining and self-cleaning ability, and they usually “hold” well the small specified slope of the drainage route.

Laying a drainage pipe

Drainage pipes are laid in a trench, the bottom of which is leveled to give the pipeline a design slope in accordance with GOST 30412-96, and the construction of wells is completed, and the following conditions must be met:

• The width of the trench along the bottom depends on the depth of the drain, the diameter of the pipeline, the width of the excavator bucket and must be at least 40 cm.
• in cross section, the trench can have a rectangular or trapezoidal shape. In the first case, the trench walls are strengthened with the help of inventory panels, in the second - with 1:1 slopes.
• It is recommended to install trench drains of all types in the dry season. In the presence of soils of high humidity, waterlogging, as well as in the case of surface or groundwater entering the trench, it is recommended to carry out drainage work in separate sections with preliminary complete or partial drainage.
• the bottom of the trench should not contain solid inclusions (hard lumps, bricks, stones, etc.) that could push through the lower wall of the pipe laid on them.
• installation of the pipeline is carried out at the bottom of the trench, where each drainage pipe, one by one, is sequentially inserted into the socket of the previous one, formed by a double-socket coupling. If necessary, pipes are cut between the corrugations with a hacksaw for wood or metal. Installation of couplings is carried out manually; if necessary, it is possible to use a crowbar, winches, or an excavator bucket. Rubber sealing rings are not used when installing couplings in drainage systems.
• upon completion of installation work, the drainage pipeline is sprinkled with so-called drainage bedding, which, in accordance with the composition of the drained soils, can be single-layer or multi-layer.
• To increase the durability of the drainage system, it is recommended to install a geotextile shell around the drainage bedding and the drainage pipe itself.
• Installation of drainage from pipes is carried out at outside air temperatures down to minus 10 ° C.

Drains using drainage pipes should be designed in such a way as to prevent the possibility of freezing of water in them and in drainage devices.

Transit drainage pipes are made without perforation and installed without filter coating. By design and technical specifications they are similar to gravity storm sewer pipes.

Before putting the drainage system into operation, thoroughly rinse the horizontal drain and clear the inspection wells of foreign objects and soil. Horizontal pipes are washed with a strong stream of water supplied from a water supply or a tanker to free the drainage pipes from introduced soil particles.

Drainage pipe depth

The permissible maximum depth for laying drains depends on the material of the pipes; the minimum depth for laying pipes is determined by the requirements for their protection from dynamic loads and freezing.

In soft soils with insufficient load-bearing capacity, the drainage pipe must be laid on an artificial foundation.

Drainage pipe slope

The smallest drainage slopes are determined based on the minimum permissible water flow speed in the drainage pipes of 1.0 m/s, at which silting of the drains does not occur. The greatest slopes are determined based on the maximum permissible water speed in the pipe. The maximum speed determines the intensity of soil suffusion around the drainage pipe and depends on the characteristics of geotextile filters and filter coating. If necessary, drainage can be designed with differences of 0.3 - 0.9 m, arranged in inspection wells. The slope of the drainage bottom should be constant or increasing towards its lower part. Fractures of the longitudinal drainage profile are allowed in inspection wells.

Drainage bedding

When drainage is located in gravelly, coarse and medium-sized sands with an average particle diameter of 0.3-0.4 mm and larger, single-layer gravel or crushed stone bedding is arranged; when located in medium-sized sands with an average particle diameter of less than 0.3-0.4 mm, as well as in fine and silty sands, sandy loams and with a layered structure of the aquifer, two-layer sprinklings are arranged - the inner layer of crushed stone sprinkling, and the outer layer - from sand. Crushed stone fractions should be smaller than the size of the corrugation cavity. Crushed stone according to GOST 8267-93 should not contain fragmentary elements with sharp edges.

When using drainage pipes in a filter casing, a single layer of gravel or crushed stone can be used.

Typical options for laying drainage pipes

• I – with a single layer of sandy-gravel soil;
• II – drainage pipes in a geotextile filter shell;
• a) in a trench with vertical walls;
• b) in a trench with slopes;
• 1 – trench outline;
• 2 – local soil;
• 3 – backfilling of the trench with sand of different grains;
• 4 – single-layer sprinkling with fine crushed stone;
• 5 – drainage pipe

Drainage well

Concrete wells

Traditional well designs should be made of reinforced concrete rings with an internal diameter of 1000 mm, wells with pumps - 1500 mm.

The connection of plastic drainage pipes with concrete wells is carried out by fixing the pipe in the well using cement mortar. At the junction, it is possible to use substances that increase plastic-concrete adhesion, for example, liquid rubber. In many cases, when constructing drains, tight connections are not required.

The hole in the well should have a diameter as close as possible to the outer diameter of the pipe. All resulting cracks must be filled with cement mortar, which must meet the requirements for ensuring the density of the concrete connection.

When installing a pipe in a concrete or reinforced concrete well wall, it is necessary to provide rigid support for the free end of the pipe by adding soil until the concrete sets completely. The drainage pipe should not be concreted simultaneously with the construction of the walls of a monolithic well, as this may cause deformation of the pipe under the weight of unhardened concrete.

In traditional reinforced concrete wells, a sedimentary part with a depth of at least 0.5 m is required in the last inspection well of the network at the starting section of transit drainage, in drop wells, as well as in inspection wells along the drainage route after 40-50 m.

Plastic wells

Modern compact well designs - made of plastic with a minimum diameter
315 mm. The latter are manufactured at the factory and delivered ready-made to the construction site or assembled on site from the appropriate elements.

Preference should be given to plastic manholes made from prefabricated elements installed on site. It is advisable to use wells and plastic pipes one and the same system, since in this case there are all the necessary components: for connecting pipes to each other, pipes and manholes, anti-freeze devices, etc. Such a drainage system is the most effective in terms of operation and durability.

The design of a prefabricated well consists of three main parts: bottom, vertical and cover or hatch. Pipes either cut in place into the lower part vertical design, or it has factory taps. As a rule, the preferred option is to insert pipes on site. The structural elements of wells are made from various materials based on their operating conditions. The upper part - the hatch, depending on the purpose of the territory and the expected loads, is made in various versions. The vertical part of the well can be a single-layer corrugated or double layer pipe made of various materials (PVC, HDPE, PP), the bottom of the well is made of PP.

Wells made of plastic products are installed with a settling part (sand trap) at least 0.5 m deep and cleaned using mechanized means.

Construction of a drainage well

To operate the drainage system, inspection (observation) wells are installed along the drainage route. Wells are installed at the sources of drains, in places where the route turns, changes in slopes, at drops, on straight sections at certain distances, as well as in places necessary for flushing drainage lines.

Distance between drainage wells

On straight sections, the distance between wells is recommended to be no more than 35 m for pipes up to 150 mm, and no more than 50 m for pipes over 200 mm.

At drainage turns near building ledges and at chambers on canals, the installation of inspection wells is not necessary, provided that the distance from the turn to the nearest inspection well is no more than 20 m. In the case where the drainage makes several turns in the area between inspection wells, inspection wells are installed in one turn.

Discharge of drainage water

Water from the drainage can be drained:

• inside the storm drain
• by gravity to the day surface
• into the underlying permeable strata
• pumping out storage wells

When designing drainage systems, preference should be given to drainage systems with water drainage by gravity. Drainage systems with forced pumping of water require additional justification.

In all cases, it is necessary to comply with the requirements of regulatory documents on environmental protection.

Release of water into storm drains

Discharge of drainage water into a storm sewer is permitted if the capacity of the storm sewer is determined taking into account the additional flow of water coming from the drainage system. In this case, back-up of the drainage system is not allowed.

Release of water to the surface

Water drainage to the day surface should be carried out to areas of the terrain from which it is impossible to recharge groundwater in the area of ​​the drained structure. The collector route is assigned based on a technical and economic comparison of options.

If there are auxiliary workings installed during the construction period, the possibility of using them to drain groundwater should be considered.

Release of water into underlying rock layers

Discharge of drainage water into underlying rock layers is permitted if they have sufficient absorption capacity and additional recharge of the layer will not cause negative consequences (for example, contamination of groundwater, creation of groundwater back-up over time, etc.).

Release of water into a water body

The outlet of drainage water into a water body (river, canal, lake) should be located in plan at an acute angle to the direction of flow of the stream, and its mouth should be provided with a concrete cap or reinforced with masonry or riprap. When released into a reservoir, the drainage must be laid above the water horizon in the reservoir during a flood.

In case of a short-term rise in the horizon of a reservoir, drainage, if necessary, can be laid below the flood horizon, provided that the drainage release is equipped with a check valve.

The mouth section of the drainage outlet into the reservoir must be buried below the water horizon to the thickness of the ice cover with the installation of a drop well.

Pumping out drainage water

Pumping out drainage water by pumps is allowed if it is impossible to ensure gravity drainage or bypass to underlying layers. In such cases, it is necessary to provide special pumping stations with reservoirs, the design of which should be guided by the requirements of SNiP 2.04.03-85, and when using pumped water for water supply - SNiP 2.04.02-84.

Cleaning drainage wells and pipes

During periodic inspections (at least four times a year), the condition of inspection wells, drainage pipes, collectors is examined, as well as control measurements of water flows carried out in inspection wells using a volumetric method.

A decrease in flow rate (compared to the calculated one) indicates a decrease in the throughput of drainage pipes, which may be caused by:

• settlement of drainage pipes in certain areas;
• damage to drainage pipes;
• overgrowing of the cross-section of drainage pipes due to siltation or clogging;
• calmatation of filter cut holes;
• clogging of geotextile filters.

Inspection wells must be regularly cleaned of dirt and sediment. Wells must be closed continuously throughout the entire life of the drainage.

Cleaning drains is carried out in the following ways:

• high pressure water jet rinsing

Produced using nozzles with a diameter of ~2.8 mm, pressure up to 120 bar. With this technique, the impact on the blockage and the impact area are significantly increased, and the risk of pipe destruction is reduced. The nozzle size of the nozzle must correspond to the characteristics of the water supply equipment. A pressure of 60 bar is sufficient to remove soft deposits. Pressures of 80 to 120 bar can remove more significant solid deposits.

• cleaning ball

A spherical polyethylene, polyurethane or rubber device, smaller than inner diameter sewer pipe, pulled through the pipe.

• cleaning with a polyethylene piston

A segment is used polyethylene pipe according to GOST 18599-2001, attached to a cable that is stretched inside the drainage pipe between adjacent wells to remove blockages and deposits. The outer diameter of the piston must be smaller than the inner diameter of the pipeline being cleaned.

The use of metal scrapers and brushes to clean drainage pipes is not permitted.

If the above cleaning methods do not produce an effect, the line is re-routed or the filter bedding and geotextile filter are replaced.

Contrary to popular belief, moisture may not always be a plant's best friend. Too much water is often harmful to most of them. Excess moisture is also not good for buildings. It has a destructive effect on various building materials. Therefore, it is important for every owner of a country or summer cottage (garden plots) to divert excess water from their own territory.

The most effective way to protect the foundation of a private house from the destructive effects of storm and groundwater is a concrete installation. What is especially important when water accumulates in upper layers earth, since it can provoke flooding of the basement or ground floor, moisture and further deformation of the walls, as well as the appearance of fungal formations.

Here we will talk about how to find out how to lay drainage pipes with your own hands.

Pipes for drainage systems, which are installed along the entire perimeter of the site at the dacha, make it possible to create quite high-quality drainage.

After all, the danger of flooding is borne not only by groundwater, but also by flood water. Damage can also be caused by various types of precipitation that exceed permissible standards.

Installation requirements:

• The flat location of the site (on a slope), which contributes to a large accumulation of water.
• Loamy and clay soil, which have very weak water-permeability properties.
• Increased level of location of drainage groundwater.

Types of drainage systems

What types of installation are there? Today there are two main installation options:

• Open or surface - used to remove excess moisture that occurs due to the accumulation of melt water or precipitation. Laying of this type is presented in the form of trenches and ditches (pipe in ditch).
• Closed or deep - round and flat drainage pipes with perforation (drainage pipes with perforation) are used in installation, which are laid to the required depth in a previously prepared trench (laying depth varies). The main function is to drain groundwater, as well as protect the foundation of the house.

Materials required for laying a closed system

From bulk building materials you will need:

• Sand. In drainage work it is used river sand. Its main function is to create a special filtration cushion.
• Crushed stone. The purpose of crushed stone is to form a stable layer to prevent the penetration of large parts of soil and dirt.

Main materials:

• Pumps. They are used exclusively in cases of severe flooding of the area with groundwater.
• Drainage pipe.
• Geotextiles – protects against soil contamination.
• Connecting couplings - needed for fastening laid underground pipes between themselves.

Basically, the in-ground system needs regular cleaning. To do this, inspection wells are installed along its perimeter. To collect deep water, a collector well is installed in the system.

Selection of drainage pipes

Before installing the system, great attention should be paid to selecting perforated drainage pipes for the job.

The first thing to consider is the use of perforated drainage pipes in the design of the drainage system. The second is the diameter and the presence of holes for moisture drainage, as well as air exchange.

No less important nuance is the material from which round or flat drainage pipes are made. Today the following types are presented on the building materials market:

• Asbestos-cement.
• Made of ceramics.
• Polymer.

The most popular drainage systems are polymer drainage pipes and their check valve. Their advantage is as follows.

• Quite a long period of use - up to seventy years.
• High strength indicators (check valve).
• Resistant to corrosion and aggressive environments.
• Reduced weight, simplifying the process of transportation and installation.
• Self-cleaning ability due to its smooth surface.
• Resistance to siltation.
• Value for money.
• Easy to maintain. Due to the geotextile filter, the system does not require flushing.

• Up to 150 mm - for a system that drains a small amount of water.
• Up to 300 mm – for systems with heavy loads.

For a branched system, pipes will be required for both small (for branches) and large diameter(for the main branch of the system).

Plastic pipes

Polymer types and their check valve, which are mainly used for laying drainage systems in the ground, are made of PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene and are available in the following varieties:

• Single-layer or double-layer. The choice of the number of layers depends on the density of the soil.
• Rigid and flexible drainage pipes (high flexibility). Large diameter rigid drainage pipes are used for simple circuits, while flexible ones allow you to create very complex branching throughout the entire area.
• Types with or without filter casing. Basically, they already have special holes along their entire length. However, if the purchased material does not have holes, then you can make them yourself using a thin drill or drill.
• Smooth and corrugated.

If we talk about geo-fabric, then the building materials market often offers samples already covered with filter textiles (high-quality fabric). When purchasing uncoated systems, you can easily wrap their surface yourself by securing the material with thin wire or rope around the perimeter.

Pipe laying design

Before starting work on installing a minimal system, you must first draw up a plan diagram for its location on the site.

• To install the system, you need to take into account the type of soil, as well as the height of the groundwater. The most often used is a branched scheme, at the joints of which inspection wells are installed.
• The distance between drainage branches depends on the type of soil. For clay soil it is 10 m, for loamy soil - 20 m, for sandy soil - 45 m.

Laying drainage pipes yourself

How to properly lay drainage pipes?

First you need to determine the location of the drainage pipes. There are two types of accommodation:

• “Wall” drainage - passes only near the foundation of the house, preventing moisture from entering the building itself.
• Drainage pipe laying, which is located along the entire perimeter of the site. It protects not only the base of the building, but also other outbuildings and plantings located on the territory.

Stages of work

• The first step will be to mark the area for placing ditches. To facilitate the process, you can use a laser rangefinder. Particular attention should be paid to places where moisture accumulates after rain. This means that water exchange in this area is difficult due to the presence of barriers or soil density.
• Trench. The recess under the trench should be laid taking into account differences in height. The main task of the prepared ditch system is the unhindered and rapid outflow of water.
• Before installation, the bottom of the trench should be well compacted. After this, a special filter material is laid. Its ends must necessarily extend beyond the trench. Then river sand and crushed stone are poured to a thickness of no more than 20 cm.
• The drainage pipe is cut according to the dimensions of the diagram. When you have figured out the size, you can begin laying, connecting the joints using fittings.
• The pipes must be carefully wrapped in geotextile, securing the joints with rope or thin wire, and only then can they be laid. In addition to throughput, the functions of geotextiles include protecting the perforations of the perforated drainage pipe from clogging.
• Laying must be done at a slope, connecting the ends to inspection wells. Two types of wells can be used in the system: sealed, allowing the use of water for technical purposes, and absorption - the water will go back into the soil. The slope of the drainage pipe depends on its diameter; the larger it is, the less slope is required.
• The next installation step will be filling the surface with crushed stone and sand. After which the structure is wrapped with sheets of filter material located on the surface and covered with a layer of soil. How deep should I dig? Everything is individual.

System Maintenance

When arranging a site with a drainage system, it is extremely important not only its high-quality and thoughtful installation, but also compliance with all operating rules. This will extend the period of operation of the system for a sufficiently long period.

Once every two years it is necessary to measure , its significant change may indicate the following factors:

• Damage to the integrity of the operating system.
• Formation of a dense blockage.
• Accumulation of silt deposits on the surface.

To avoid such problems, you must not ignore the rules, promptly inspect the drainage system and clean it from any contaminants.

(Draining the area - do-it-yourself drainage pipe)

Common mistakes

Laying drainage pipes with your own hands must be done in accordance with all requirements. This also applies to the selection of installations that should be suitable for the type of soil. For example, if you have loamy soil on your site, you cannot use systems that do not have a filter.

So, among the most popular mistakes that are made when installing a system around a house with your own hands today are:

• Incorrect type of system.
• During installation, the angle of inclination that is accepted for laying the system is not observed.
• There is no water drainage from the collection well.
• Incorrect do-it-yourself installation technology, that is, the filter layer consisting of gravel and sand was not made.

Needed drainage works? Do you want to prevent flooding of basements and the foundation of a private house during rainstorms or melting snow? Do you need to protect the entire territory of the land plot from groundwater, rain, and melt water? You have come to the right address - the Modern Drainage Systems company provides a full range of services related to the organization storm sewer, site drainage, foundation waterproofing, etc.

Our specialists select necessary materials for installation of drainage systems, laying sewer pipes, as well as drainage and storm pipelines. We provide professional assistance in cases where water ceases to be a vital necessity, but becomes a serious problem!

What is a drainage system?

In order not to repeat the mistakes of homeowners, who from year to year are faced with the problem of protecting the site from excess water or removing moisture from the foundation of the house, drainage and storm system– a complex of interconnected devices (pipeline, drainage pump, well, etc.), ensuring the removal of surface or groundwater from the ground.

Drainage system used not only in private land ownership or gardens, but also in agriculture, in parks, during the construction of roads, the construction of warehouse complexes, the arrangement of sidewalks, football fields, etc. Therefore, it is better to provide for the installation of drainage and storm system drainage at the design stage of any facility.

Ring drainage of the building foundation:

(applies if there is no basement or basement)

Name of service	Unit.	price, rub.
Design of foundation ring drainage	—	for free
Installation of ring drainage for the foundation of a building - DEPTH up to 1 m	m.p.	from 1400
Installation of ring drainage for the foundation of a building - DEPTH up to 2 m	m.p.	from 2600
Installation of ring drainage for the foundation of a building - DEPTH up to 2.5 m	m.p.	from 3800
	m.p.	from 1800
	m.p.	from 2950

Wall drainage of the building foundation:

(applicable if there is a basement or basement)

Name of service	Unit.	price, rub.
Design of foundation wall drainage	—	for free
Installation of wall drainage for the foundation of a building - DEPTH up to 1 m	m.p.	from 1400
Installation of wall drainage for the foundation of a building - DEPTH up to 2 m	m.p.	from 2600
Installation of wall drainage for the foundation of a building - DEPTH from 2 to 3 m	m.p.	from 3800
Installation of rotary inspection wells (depending on diameter)	m.p.	from 1800
Construction of a final drainage well (depending on diameter)	m.p.	from 2950

Storm drainage:

Sewerage:

Is it important to carry out drainage work?

Solving the problem of draining groundwater, melt water, and rainwater from the underground elements of a structure, especially when building a house with a basement, is necessary to ensure that the walls do not become wet, since this can lead to flooding or destruction of the entire building structure.

Sometimes even high quality ones waterproofing works unable to cope with dampness, the appearance of mold, mildew in the basement floors of the building or in the basement. Professional builders and organizations with many years of experience installation work related to waterproofing concrete structures buried in the ground, it is unequivocally stated that not a single type of waterproofing will effectively protect concrete from water without the use of a drainage pipe.

To prevent a catastrophe during freezing of frozen soil, which increases in volume and can provoke wall shifts, foundation ruptures, and the appearance of cracks, drainage pipes laid around the house - this is the so-called wall drainage, or throughout the entire territory - protective surface drainage of the site. In addition to extending the life of the foundation, sidewalks, and garden paths, an important function of proper drainage is to preserve the root system of trees and plants from rotting.

The cost of installing drainage usually includes a specialist visiting the site, project preparation, calculation of material consumption, equipment delivery, and the services of qualified installers. Final price drainage works depends on the complexity of construction activities, foundation depth, as well as the need to carry out such additional services How installation foundation waterproofing, basement drainage, lawn installation and laying paving slabs.

Main stages of drainage installation

Almost every area has a risk of flooding, especially during long periods of snowmelt or in areas where there is high groundwater. There is no need to risk real estate and family peace, but it is necessary to place around the house below the foundation level drainage pipes, drainage trays, pump, storm water inlets, as well as drainage well made of durable and reliable polymer materials. The installation process takes place in the following sequence:

• — A trench is dug and compacted, which is then covered with geotextiles;
• — Drainage pipes made of plastic with perforation and a filter made of Typar geotextile are laid;
• — The drainage pipe is backfilled with crushed stone and the contour of the crushed stone is covered with geotextile, then backfilled with coarse sand on top of the geotextile;
• — Inspection and rotary wells are installed to monitor the operation of the entire system;
• — Next, a final drainage well is installed, which, as a rule, has a larger diameter than rotary inspection wells; a pump is installed in it for pumping out drainage and storm water;
• — Trays with gratings and storm water inlets are installed, which are connected to separately laid pipes for the storm water drainage system;
• — At the final stage, the pipeline is backfilled first with sand, then with soil.

To drainage works ensured not only water drainage, but also your peace of mind, they must be carried out by qualified craftsmen using high-quality and proven materials. Comfortable landscaping of the territory, eliminating troubles during spring floods or heavy rain, is provided by a company with 10 years of experience, “Modern Drainage Systems”.

Why choose us?

If you want to get reliable water protection for your home, an excellent rainwater drainage system, high-quality sewer network with simultaneous optimization of the water balance on your site, then take advantage of the advantageous offer of the Modern Drainage Systems company.

Our range of services includes:

• — Selection and sale of drainage and drainage equipment;
• — Drawing up a project for a drainage system, stormwater system and sewerage;
• — Providing drawings and a complete package of technical documentation;
• — Any foundation work, including drainage, insulation and waterproofing;
• — Installation of site drainage and turnkey foundation;
• — Maintenance of drainage systems;
• — Storm sewer(design, device, service);
• — Free consultation;
• — Guarantee for all types of work and materials.

The undeniable advantages of cooperation include a professional approach to any problem, which is quickly and effectively resolved on an individual basis. The main rule of our work is the constant quality of components for drainage at optimal prices. Regardless of what type of work you need on drainage and improvement of drainage systems: wall drainage, ring foundation drainage or site drainage, we provide the full range of necessary materials, as well as consulting, support and service activities.

When collaborating with the Modern Drainage Systems company, you are not only guaranteed competent protection of the foundation and your site from excess water, but also ensures quiet life in a landscaped area. Now the arrival of spring will be a joy, and no snow or rain will be able to tarnish the reputation of your foundation!