A Complete Guide on Drainage System

All drainage systems are meant to remove excess water from residential buildings to reduce the risk of contamination.

However, there are different drainage systems with unique characteristics and functions.

We'll be covering the different types and their purposes here.

What Is a Drainage System?

Drainage systems are present in every structure with a plumbing fixture, like a sink or toilet. This assortment of piping drains wastewater and ensures it goes toward the ground.

Since this excess water drains downward instead of pooling, it keeps our homes clean and reduces the risk of flooding due to storms or a buildup of water runoff.

All drainage systems use gravity to help the water drain properly and require vent piping to function properly.

Every structure needs this piping, which is why you often see pipes protruding from a building's roof.

Venting pipes require caps to keep debris and rainwater out and let air flow. This prevents sewer gases from building up.

How Does It Work?

The main objective of a drainage system has two parts: It's meant to remove wastewater and ensure that gas from the sewer doesn't enter your home or building.

A drainage system must slope downward to ensure that all the water it collects also flows downward instead of pooling on the surface.

Homes also often have S- and P-traps with pockets of water. These traps stop smells from the sewer from entering the home.

What Are the Different Types of Drainage Systems?

This section will cover the main types of residential drainage systems.

Surface Drainage System

A surface drain is typically installed near lawns or the street, any point where surface runoff can accumulate.

A surface drainage system is designed to slope downward and bring water away from the surface and into the sewer. There are many types of surface drains, like open drains and levees.

Drain Spouts and Gutters

During heavy storms, water tends to collect on roofs and can cause serious flooding and property damage if not allowed to drain properly.

That's where drain spouts or downspouts come in. This plumbing system ensures that any stormwater and rainwater has a path to flow instead of pooling and stagnating on a roof.

It looks just like a simple pipe, but installing a downspout is vital protection against damage from rainwater.

Slope Drainage System

Slope drainage systems are typically larger structures. A plumber will install an anchored pipe in a hollowed-out incline to help it move water away from a structure.

The pipe should also be protected by riprap (stones or boulders) to protect the surrounding soil from erosion.

French Drain System

French drains are also subsurface drains since they're typically placed underneath the top layer of soil in a lawn or garden. They're also quick to install and worth the protection.

Subsurface drains help tackle excess water at a root level. These drainage systems are composed of ditches with pipes and a collector drain.

What Are the Common Issues of a Drainage System?

Because a drainage system conveys sewage away from buildings, they're prone to a few issues. Here are a few of the issues that can occur.

Clogging

A debris buildup like bar soap chunks can slow water flow through your drains. This can be treated with a drain cleaner or boiling water.

Breaks and Leaks From Roots

A drainage system is a source of moisture, and surrounding tree roots can burrow down and create holes in your pipes. Use root killers to treat this issue.

Why Are Drainage Systems Important?

Residential drainage systems are essential because they remove water and other liquid waste from buildings and toward the sewer.

Having a few drains installed in your home will keep everything clean and sanitary and reduce the risk of being contaminated by your sewage.

Any excess water and sewage you produce will reach a disposal plant where it can be cleaned and recycled.

What’s the Difference Between Gray Water and Black Water?

All drainage systems collect water of all kinds, but you may have heard of gray and black water and wonder how they differ.

• Gray Water - Any water that comes from your kitchen, bathroom sinks, or laundry work
• Black Water - Water that comes from your toilet. Typically includes urine and human waste matter.

Between the two, gray water can be recycled and reused in your garden, but black water must be treated at a sewer plant before it can be released into waterways.

Conclusion

Drainage systems help remove excess water from causing issues by directing it away from a structure and toward the ground, where it can be treated and disposed of properly.

This arrangement of pipes helps water flow away from buildings and toward sewage treatment plants, where they can be cleaned before being discharged into larger waterways.

A drainage system is much more than a single pipe and is usually made of multiple systems.