Water is a necessary component for life, but it’s undesirable to have it where you don’t want it to be. Without proper drainage, water can become a major headache on any road, bridge, building, or other structure. At best, water can be an inconvenience or lead to mold and mildew; at its worst it can erode infrastructure and lead to foundation issues. Tucker Paving has nearly 30 years in the paving construction industry in Central Florida’s summer wet season, so we know how water can absolutely wreak havoc. We also know that it’s important to plan out drainage for every step of your construction project, including the final product. See your options for handling water on your next construction site.
Construction Drainage Options
All drainage is meant to take excess water from a place where it’s not wanted to a place where the water won’t cause damage. Knowing where your excess water needs to go is the first step and will guide the rest of your drainage system. Water at your site may drain into a sewer system made of pipes to take it to a treatment facility or acceptable waterway; or, your excess water may be diverted into gutters, ditches, culverts, swales, and retention ponds.
Additional factors that will guide the design of your drainage system include the type of soil in your site, the amount of average rainfall the area sees, and whether the water can be sent to a natural destination like a retention pond or waterway or if it must be treated before rejoining the water cycle.
Commonly used drain options include:
- Trench Drains. One of the most popular options, trench drains include a grated cover over a buried concrete trench that water can flow into. The grate allows large amounts of water to flow through while keeping large debris out; the concrete trench moves water quickly away, usually to pipes that direct the water to a treatment facility or other acceptable outlet.
- Slot Drain. A type of trench drain, a slot drain consists of a very narrow slot in the walking surface that drains into a pipe just below that surface. These are often used in fire stations, car washes, garages, and areas where sanitation is a concern, such as in food preparation sites and wineries. They are also used in places where heavy loads must pass over the drain as the grates of standard trench drains are a weak point.
- HDPE Drains. These drainage systems are made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. Usually, these drain systems are prefabricated to your specifications and then installed as-is. The plastic is strong and flexible, making it suitable for large-scale drainage needs, such as highways, commercial projects, and more.
- French Drains. Common in residential properties, French drains consist of a perforated pipe and gravel in a trench that drains water away from a structure.
- Swales. A swale is a shallow ditch that is covered in vegetation that collects water runoff.
Tucker Paving has nearly 30 years of experience in the concrete and asphalt paving construction industry and offers underground utility installation, like water and sewer, as well as Earthworks, Hauling, and more. Call us at (863) 299-2262, or contact us online, for your next project!