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By BigEasyDrainage
A drainage system includes a network of pipes and other structures that allow water to drain away from buildings and other areas. The four main types of drainage are surface, sub-surface, stormwater, and wastewater.
There are four main types of drainage systems:
Each type has its own purpose and function in keeping your property dry.
Drainage systems are important for preventing flooding and managing water resources.
When it rains, the water that falls on your roof doesn’t just magically disappear – it has to go somewhere. That’s where your home’s drainage system comes in.
The purpose of a drainage system is to collect rainwater and runoff from higher areas on your property and channel it away from lower-lying areas, such as your foundation or basement.
This prevents flooding and helps protect your home against damage caused by excessive moisture.
Drainage systems come in all shapes and sizes, but they typically include gutters, downspouts, drains, catch basins, French drains, retention ponds, swales, channels, culverts, and ditches.
All of these components work together to move water safely away from buildings or other vulnerable areas.
Gutters are installed along the edges of roofs to collect rainwater as it runs off the sides of the roof. Downspouts connect gutters to drainpipes, which carry collected rainwater away from the building.
Drains are installed inside homes or other structures with plumbing fixtures (such as sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets) to carry wastewater away. Catch basins are designed to capture stormwater runoff before it enters a sewer system or natural body of water.
French drains consist of perforated pipes surrounded by gravel; they’re used primarily for groundwater control or redirecting surface water run-off.
Retention ponds store stormwater temporarily until it can be released into natural waterways at a controlled rate.
Swales are shallow depressions that help direct stormwater flow; they’re often planted with grasses or other vegetation. Channels convey large volumes of floodwaters quickly through an area; they may be lined with concrete.
Culverts allow streams and small rivers to pass under roads without having them collapse due to their weight. Ditches excavate low spots where surplus precipitation collects and then flows downhill.
While a drainage system is not required by law in most places, it’s definitely something worth considering if your home is prone to flooding or you live in an area with a lot of rainfall.
A well-designed and properly installed drainage system can save you a lot of headaches (and money) down the road.
Surface, subsurface, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer. Most people are familiar with surface drains, which are the most common type of drain and are typically found in yards or on streets.
Surface drains collect water from rain or melting snow and transport it to a nearby storm sewer or natural body of water. Subsurface drains are installed beneath the ground to collect water from seeping through cracks or holes in foundations.
These types of drains are often used in conjunction with sump pumps to prevent basement flooding. Storm sewers are designed to handle large amounts of water during heavy rains or floods.
They are usually an underground system that consists of pipes that lead away from your property into a larger municipal system where the water is eventually discharged into waterways.
Sanitary sewers collect wastewater from toilets, sinks, and other fixtures and transport it to a treatment plant where it is cleaned before being discharged into waterways.
This type of system is vital for public health as it prevents the spread of disease by removing sewage and other waste from homes and businesses.
Drainage systems are designed to remove excess water from an area. They typically consist of a network of pipes and drains that collect and carry water away from homes, businesses, and other structures.
The type of drainage system used depends on the specific needs of the property or structure being drained.
Drainage systems usually have one or more inlets located at low points in the area to be drained. These inlets allow water to enter the system through grates or catch basins.
The water is then carried through a network of pipes – often made from concrete, plastic, or metal – to discharge points where it is released into natural waterways such as rivers, lakes, or oceans; infiltration galleries that recharge groundwater aquifers; retention ponds for storage; evaporation beds for treating wastewater before release; or storm sewers which convey runoff directly to surface waters without treatment.
Pumps may also be used to move water uphill if gravity alone is not enough to do the job.
The size and capacity of drainage systems vary depending on the needs of the area they are serving.
Small residential systems may have only a few pipes and drains, while large commercial or industrial complexes can have hundreds or even thousands of miles of pipe carrying millions of gallons of water per day.
Drainage systems are important for many reasons. They help to prevent flooding, they allow water to drain away from foundations and other structures, and they can help to control erosion.
Additionally, drainage systems can improve the quality of groundwater by preventing pollutants from entering aquifers. For homeowners, a properly functioning drainage system is vital in order to protect their investment.
Flooding can cause extensive damage to a home – both structurally and cosmetically – and it is often not covered by insurance policies. By having a good drainage system in place, you can minimize the risk of flood damage to your home.
Erosion is another problem that can be caused by improper drainage. When rainwater runoff is not directed away from your foundation, it will eventually start to erode the soil around your home’s foundation.
This could lead to cracks in your foundation or even cause your foundation to collapse. A well-designed drainage system will direct water away from vulnerable areas on your property and help prevent this type of damage.
In addition to protecting homes, drainage systems play an important role in protecting our environment. Stormwater runoff often contains pollutants such as oil, grease, fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals.
If this contaminated water seeps into the ground, it can pollute groundwater supplies. Properly designed stormwater management systems ensure that contaminants are filtered out before they have a chance to enter aquifers.
In short, proper drainage is essential for protecting homes and businesses from flood damage and environmental pollution.
Your drains are an important part of your home’s plumbing system, and it’s important to keep them clear and free of clogs.
Here are some tips for maintaining your drains:
Looking for a reliable and affordable drainage contractor in New Orleans? Look no further than Big Easy Drainage.
We offer a wide range of services to meet your needs, including stormwater management, French drain installation, catch basin repair, and more. Call us today to get started!