Our home is perhaps one of our most precious possessions. But is it enough to boast of a beautifully decorated interior? Think again! The external look of our dwelling place appeals visually but what’s going on underneath the foundation is often much more important. The drainage system of any abode needs equal attention in order to provide sustainability and safety.
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area.
A smart drainage solution is mandatory to dissipate surplus water both in farming lands and in residential areas. Untreated excess water abets the chances of erosion of the foundation, making the structure of your home unstable. On the other hand agricultural soil needs drainage to enhance production or to manage water supplies.
An underground drainage system comprises of pipes and storage tanks made from perforated wall modules to form the desired size and configuration. They are wrapped in a water permeable geotextile. The system is preferably buried in clean sand, whereby rainwater and runoff water is directed to flow through the water permeable geotextile.
Drainage can be either natural or artificial. Many areas have some natural drainage which means that excess water flows from the farmers’ fields to swamps or to lakes and rivers. Natural drainage, however, is often inadequate and artificial or man-made drainage is required.
Types of artificial drainage:
Surface drainage is the process of removal of excess water from the surface of the land. This is normally accomplished by shallow ditches which are also called open drains. The shallow ditches discharge into larger and deeper collector drains. In order to facilitate the flow of excess water towards the drains, the field is given an artificial slope by means of land grading.
Subsurface drainage is the removal of water from the root zone. It is accomplished by deep open drains or buried pipe drains. Excess water from the root zone flows into the deep open drains. The disadvantage of this type of subsurface drainage is that it makes the use of machinery difficult. Pipe drains are buried pipes with openings through which the soil water can enter. The pipes convey the water to a collector drain.
Drainage system that lies beneath your home works hard at all time to keep your abode prim and proper. Not only does it have to process water waste that is created by bathing and washing dishes, but it also handles sewage waste and outside water that is draining off your home. This is a tough set of responsibilities for the residential underground drainage system to handle so you might want to think proactively about keeping this system in working order.