What Does Underground Drainage System Mean in Construction?
What Does Underground Drainage System Mean in Construction?
An underground drainage system is a blanket term for fittings and pipes placed below the ground. It is used to channel rainwater to its soakaway or to transport wastewater to its holding area in the home or treatment facility.
Municipal sanitary drains are underground pipe systems designed to transport sanitary sewage from residential and commercial properties.
There are two broad types of drainage systems: municipal storm drainage systems and municipal sanitary drains.
Surface drainage systems remove excess water from the land’s surface through channels or ditches, while subsurface drainage systems are implemented beneath the top layer of soil.
Underground drainage is generally referred to as the sewage system as it is predominately used to transport waste water (grey water) or foul.
Underground drainage installation involves digging trenches out to the correct “fall” (to use gravity to move the waste water), laying them with pea shingle, and ensuring that they are laid out in a way that allows for rodding, testing, cleaning, and inspecting the system.
How to Install Underground Drainage System?
Installing an underground drainage system requires several steps. First, locate the underground drainage runs by flipping through your property deeds.
This will show you if there are any existing runs and can help you determine where to install your new system. Next, dig trenches for the drainage pipe.
Before digging, call 811 to have utility lines marked. Once you have dug the trench, lay out the materials (catch basin and pipe) next to where you want them to go. Then, using a shovel, dig your trench.
After digging the trench, install the catch basin kit and filter for catch basin. Connect the downspout tube into the main drain line using a Y-fitting.
Slip a sock over the connection to prevent debris from entering the drain line. Finally, bury the downspout with dirt so that it is not visible above ground level.
When installing an underground drainage system, it is important to consider factors such as size of gutter and efficiency of water flow during heavy storms.
The advantage of having underground drainage pipes is harvesting rainwater and storing it for future domestic uses.
To install an underground water tank, you will need to connect rainwater drainage pipes with underground drainage pipes so that they work together to control water flow at home during heavy storms.
How to Maintain Underground Drainage System
Underground drainage systems require regular maintenance to ensure they operate effectively and efficiently for many years.
Regularly sweep away any loose dirt or seal the surrounding area with small stones or rocks to act as a filter and catchment area. Securing garden edging and ensuring soil from garden beds is not flushed into the grates can help keep a drainage system cleaner and able to work more efficiently.
Routinely check underground drainage systems at regular intervals, especially before the onset of the rainy season or immediately after significant seasonal rains have occurred.
Observe underground drains during rain to make sure that water is flowing properly. If little to no water is coming from one drain, but heavily flowing from other drains, then that drain is more than likely clogged underground.
To prevent debris from going down underground drains in the first place, install gutter covers on gutters that lead to underground drains.
Use an enzyme cleaner like a drain stick once a month to keep your drains fresh and clean. Brands like Ecozone make drain sticks in packs of (which will last you a year). You just place one stick down your plughole into the drain, and it uses powerful natural bacteria and enzymes to break down any blockages.
If inspection or cleaning necessitates working inside an underground detention tank, confined space procedures must be followed.
The entire drainage system should be generally inspected at least twice a year or otherwise based on specific requirements.
How to Clean Underground Drainage System
Underground drains can be cleaned by snaking the drain with a plumber’s auger. To do this, pull the underground drain away from the end of the downspout and insert the auger into the underground gutter.
Turn the handle clockwise to extend the end of the auger. Turn it counterclockwise if it becomes hard to turn; it’s likely you’ve encountered a blockage. Reverse the auger to pull it out of the drain and clear it of debris.
Another DIY home remedy is to spray a high-powered hose into the drain to attempt to flush it out.
There are several methods for unclogging an underground drain pipe, including cable rodding, blow bag, hydro jetting, and picote milling machine. Cable rodding involves inserting a flexible cable through a pipe that will hopefully break up blockages. Blow bags are used with care since too much pressure can damage pipes, especially old ones with weak joints.
Hydro jetting is like power-washing inside pipes using high-pressure water that removes greasy and solid debris yet still safe for pipes. Chemical cleaners or solutions recommended by plumbers can also be used.
To prevent underground drains from clogging in the first place, leaf protection on gutters or strainers in downspouts is highly recommended.
How to Maintain Underground Drainage System
Underground drainage systems require regular maintenance to ensure they operate effectively and efficiently for many years.
Regularly sweep away any loose dirt or seal the surrounding area with small stones or rocks to act as a filter and catchment area.
Routinely check underground drainage systems at regular intervals, especially before the onset of the rainy season or immediately after significant seasonal rains have occurred.
The entire drainage system should be generally inspected at least twice a year or otherwise based on specific requirements. Keep under drains outlets open and clean by high-pressure flushing with water or flexible cleaning equipment.
To prevent underground drains from clogging, install gutter covers to any gutters that lead to underground drains.
Observe your underground drains during rain to make sure that the water is flowing properly. If little to no water is coming from one drain, but heavily flowing from the other drains, then that drain is more than likely clogged underground.
Use an enzyme cleaner like a drain stick once a month to keep your drains fresh and clean.
To maintain home drains, build a few small daily, weekly and monthly habits to avoid clogging and blockages. Be mindful about what exactly is going down your drains, and regularly maintain them.
Scale forms at a very fast rate in kitchen sink pipes and bathroom wash basins, baths, and underground drains.
Avoid pouring grease down the drain as it can solidify in pipes causing blockages. Do not flush anything other than toilet paper down toilets as it can cause blockages in pipes.
Run hot water through sinks after use for 15 seconds to help prevent grease buildup in pipes.
Installing an in-ground backyard drainage system requires digging trenches for perforated plastic drainage pipes that are surrounded by gravel and covered with landscape fabric.
The trench should slope downhill away from any structures such as houses or sheds so that gravity can carry water away from these areas.
A dry well can also be installed which is merely a holding tank for large water runoff – after rain it slowly percolates into the surrounding soil.
A sock sleeve made of rot-resistant material should be used around perforated pipe sections to prevent soil infiltration while allowing water flow into the pipe.