Drainage ditch: the pros and cons of an open water drainage system

Not everyone was lucky enough to become the owner of a land plot on a flat, sunlit and at the same time dry area - many are forced to be content with plots on soils with a high level of groundwater and a high risk of flooding. However, this is not a reason for sadness - you can get rid of this problem!

Features and purpose

Before understanding the features of the drainage ditch, one should dwell on the very concept of "drainage". So, drainage is the process of draining swampy soil and removing excess moisture from the soil. This term also refers to the device of a system of trenches, ditches and wells, which are designed to drain water. Why is it necessary?

Excess water in the ground creates many problems. Constant "squishing" underfoot and non-drying puddles are just the smallest of them. Other troubles are much worse.

Negative impact on landings. Harvesting a good harvest in conditions of high humidity is almost impossible, the roots of plants rot, and the seedlings simply do not develop.
High groundwater excludes any possibility of arranging a basement or cellar under the house.
A great danger threatens the house itself, as well as additional outbuildings on the site, since during the period of active snow melting, the earth is filled with moisture and begins to swell. This creates additional pressure on the supporting structures and often causes deformation of the supports.

The arrangement of drainage is considered an excellent solution that will help prevent all of these problems. As a rule, private areas are protected with a drainage ditch in which a pipe is fixed. This system creates good conditions for collecting and discharging water to a lower zone.

It is quite possible to create protective structures in the country on your own, but this must be done before the start of improvement work. Drainage ditch, pipe or well - these elements form the drainage system on the site.

Even before the start of work on the arrangement of the site, it is important to determine the likelihood of flooding, as well as evaluate your own capabilities and choose a drainage system that best suits the terrain and budget possibilities.

There are several types of drainage ditch.

open drainage- this system is considered the simplest, it does not require serious excavation, the only thing that is needed is to dig several ditches throughout the site, and also bring a storm pipe there. Such a system allows you to effectively remove excess irrigation and rainwater.
deep drainage- this option is more laborious, it is used in areas where groundwater is located close to the surface, as well as on clay soils with poor moisture absorption. The basis of the drainage structure here is a pipe, reinforced in a previously dug trench. The latter, in turn, leads to a special water collector or a larger collector pipe.
vertical drainage- such a system involves the arrangement of a network of several wells that are mounted around the building, the moisture poured into them is pumped out by a pump. This is an efficient system, however, it requires careful engineering calculations and costly work.

Where is it needed and what are the requirements?

A drainage ditch is most often provided for in relatively small areas, this is due to the low degree of automation of work on its implementation, the need for regular repairs and a short service life. For industrial purposes, ditches are practically not used.

There are certain SNiPs that establish standards and requirements for drainage ditches.

In accordance with them, it is strictly forbidden to bring a trench with storm water to:

water bodies inhabited by living organisms;
washed out ravines or unfortified ditches;
flowing streams and rivers;
reservoirs, on the banks of which family recreation areas are equipped;
lowlands prone to swamping.

It is not allowed to install a drainage ditch on land plots in cases where the height of the flow of groundwater is less than 2 meters. Otherwise, wastewater may enter aquifers. For such areas, experts recommend equipping channels equipped with closed hatches.

All types of drainage systems are subject to the standards of SP 104-34-96 and SNiP 2.05.07-85. They specify the permissible angles of inclination, the maximum distances to residential facilities and other structures, as well as the optimal design options depending on the characteristics of the soil, terrain, and the required throughput of the ditch.

In accordance with them, the following requirements are distinguished.

On flat terrain, the angle of inclination should not exceed 3-5% - this roughly corresponds to a height difference of 3-5 cm every 10 meters.
The drainage ditch should be equipped away from the fences and supporting structures of the house and outbuildings, otherwise there is a high probability of blurring their base. Therefore, the distance from the ditch to the erected structures must be at least 30 cm, and the walls of the drainage system must be sealed without fail so that water is not washed out under the foundations.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of a drainage ditch are obvious - this is the ability to effectively remove excess moisture from the site, which means reducing the risk of the following unpleasant phenomena:

flooding of the land;
waterlogging of the soil and the frequent formation of non-drying puddles;
rotting of load-bearing wooden supports of building structures;
death of plant roots;
inhibition of the growth of seedlings on the territory of the land allotment;
mold formation and active reproduction of the fungus;
excessive accumulation of dirt in the local area;
development of chronic bronchopulmonary diseases due to constantly high humidity.

A nice bonus is the possibility of self-arranging a ditch. This does not require any special equipment, every adult can take a shovel and dig a trench, and, of course, this is the lowest-budget drainage method, since it requires almost no financial costs.

But among the shortcomings, you can specify the following:

the ditch is less efficient than the storm sewer;
this type of drainage system has a rather short period of use;
the ditch requires regular maintenance and periodic compaction, as well as clearing and restoring the embankment.

Many believe that the drainage ditch significantly worsens the landscape, however, experts assure that, if necessary, it is possible to decorate the trench so that it harmoniously fits into the overall design of the site.

How to do it yourself?

Owners of summer cottages and suburban areas are most often engaged in arranging a drainage ditch with their own hands.

In order for the drainage system to be as efficient as possible, first mark the site, and then wait for the first heavy rain and look where the most water accumulates - it is from there that the water must be removed first.
The easiest way to make ditches is if the land on the site has a natural slope, then the only thing you need is to dig a U-shaped hole along the fence. Although quite often a trench is dug in the shape of a Christmas tree, the “branches” of which are brought to different parts of the land allotment, and then brought together into a single “trunk”.

The depth of the ditch should be 70 cm, and the width should be about 40-50 cm. It should start above the level of the house in order to fully collect the runoff of melt and rainwater, and be discharged outside the site through the installed drainage pipes.
The bottom of the trench is usually laid out with crushed stone, which is tightly compacted, and a perforated corrugated drainpipe with a diameter of about 10 cm is laid on the gravel.
At the final stage, the pipes are wrapped with a layer of geotextile and the slopes of the trench are strengthened.