The drainage system is a structure that is responsible for removing excess moisture from the land. This helps to avoid the destruction of the foundation of buildings, creates an optimal microclimate in the soil and promotes rapid plant growth. Otherwise, water forms puddles and stagnant zones, which leads to rotting, mold and mildew (including in basements and ground floors).
In most cases, the construction of a house begins with the creation of a drainage system. The choice of materials (including asbestos-cement pipes) and the type of construction depend on the characteristics of the site and the size of the future building. The following types of drainage systems remain the most popular:
- deep;
- superficial;
- vertical;
- radial.
Deep drainage
Deep drainage is performed in low-lying areas, lands with clay and loamy soil, as well as in places with high humidity. For these purposes, pipes are laid in the ditches, through which water flows into a specialized well.
The advantages of deep drainage include:
- Possibility of installation on a site of any size;
- effective removal of excess moisture, regardless of the amount of precipitation and the depth of groundwater;
- ease of use (using a well it is easy to control the drainage of liquid);
- long service life.
The only downside is the need to carry out excavation work, during which there is a risk of large stones and debris getting into the pipeline and subsequent clogging.
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Surface drainage
Surface drainage is considered the simplest, as it requires minimal labor. The system consists of point and linear drainage systems, through which precipitation and water from melted snow flows away from the site by gravity.
The advantages of this method include:
- system reliability;
- the possibility of using materials with high water resistance;
- a variety of components that are assembled into a system taking into account the characteristics of the object;
- ease of installation and quick completion of work;
- no need for regular cleaning of pipes;
- attractive price.
Vertical drainage
Vertical drainage includes several wells designed for water collection. After that, the collected liquid is removed by pumping with special pumps. However, to create such a system, you need to contact a specialist who understands engineering design and can perform all the calculations.
Advantages of the method:
- effective drainage even with soil deformation and high pressure;
- the ability to choose the filter coating and core profile;
- possibility of installation at a depth of 65 m;
- “clean” installation of the system without preliminary soil excavation.
Radial drainage
Radial drainage is ideal for areas with a large number of buildings (including industrial ones). The system includes a well and rays diverging from it, through which water is captured from underground sources. This provides protection against flooding, rising contaminants from sewers and cesspools, as well as leaks of petroleum products.
Thus, the main advantages of the system include:
- efficiency even in highly complex hydrogeological conditions;
- possibility of use on lands with high density of buildings;
- creation of a system without violating the integrity of the site (its appearance, lawn vegetation and existing communications);
- service life of more than 25 years for wells and 50 years for a shaft well.
Interesting! One radial drainage complex provides effective drainage of territories within 20 hectares.
Unfortunately, the creation of radial drainage is an expensive procedure, which is resorted to mainly by large companies and industrial enterprises.
Other types of drainage systems
In fact, there are other types of drainage systems. This list includes:
- Pottery. Water enters the drainage through 1-2 mm joints and special grooves. The system allows you to select the appropriate diameter – from 50 to 120 cm. The standard length of the drain is 33 cm.
- Wooden. Used in areas with peat soil, where it can last up to 40 years. Water enters the drainage through cracks. At the same time, it is possible to lay additional pipes directly on the boards.
- Stone. It is distinguished by its special frost resistance, which allows it to be used in “permafrost”. It is a trench, covered with broken brick, rubble and stone along the entire length of the foundation. It can last up to 15 years on clay soil and up to 40 years on peat soil.
- Gravel (filling). A rather expensive method, which involves lowering the water level by filling the boundary of the aquifer with a layer of gravel.
Design of drainage system
When designing and selecting drainage materials, the following features of the area must be taken into account:
- soil composition and its filtration properties (clay, limestone, peat, etc.);
- depth of occurrence and freezing of groundwater;
- slope of the site and other relief features;
- average annual precipitation;
- a design plan of the site with buildings marked on it and an indication of their design features;
- list of existing or planned plantings;
- plan of laid roads and paths, as well as concreted areas;
- availability of utility networks and communications (water supply, gas supply and heating).
Only after this can you proceed to choosing a suitable drainage system and drawing up an estimate for materials and construction work. Pay special attention to the choice of building material. We recommend using chrysotile cement (asbestos cement) pipes – they have high strength indicators, are impermeable and are made of natural materials.
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When is drainage needed?
The creation of drainage systems is mandatory in the following cases:
- during the construction of buildings with a basement and ground floor deeper than 1.5 m;
- when groundwater is close (even if it is located at some distance from the house);
- when building on clay soil or in marshy areas;
- when constructing a columnar foundation at the minimum permissible distance from groundwater.
In any case, before starting construction, it is necessary to conduct an assessment of groundwater and take into account the features of the future facility. Happy construction!
