What You Didn’t Know About Storm Drain Construction

 

Many homeowners do not put much thought into what is going on with their residential storm drain construction. Still, there is a whole system working underneath your feet to provide you with safe conditions and drinking water for you home. Here are a few little known facts about your drainage system.

 

First of all, it is important to consider what exactly your system contains. Storm drains guide excess water in a neighborhood to an outside source that is usually a large lake, river or ocean. A labyrinth of pipes carry runoff into this open body of water. There are some locations where basins store water for later disposal. This stops an influx of water from rushing into a disposal site and flooding that location.

 

Before runoff reaches a body of water it must go through a multitude of filters that make it safe for the environment. There are geomembrane liners, oil and sediment filters, vegetative filters and pocket filters just to name a few. Each of these catch dangerous chemicals from entering water systems and larger man-made trash from affecting wildlife.

 

There is also a large amount of science that goes into storm drain construction. Before an installation or repair can occur, subsurface utility engineers must map the area to prevent breaking into other pipelines or gas lines. Their equipment creates models and maps that lets contractors see where they can start digging.

 

Contractors must also solve numerous calculations for a system that meets local regulations. Math skills are used to decide the pipe and possible basin dimensions. A contractor must also take into account flow rates set by local law when determining the angle of a pipeline. Both engineers and builders work together to meet EPA regulations.

 

Storm drain construction is no easy task. With many factors to consider, it is best to leave any repair up to professionals. Contact well-trained contractors to protect your home and the environment.