What is a trench for drainage called?

Author: Loraine Pacocha  |  Last update: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Trench drains may also be called channel drains and are an above-ground drainage solution. Its materials are embedded in the ground within a long, narrow trench. It has a grated covering that may look like guttering.

What is the name of a trench drain?

If you're dealing with water issues on your property, installing a French drain, trench drain, or swale could be just the solution you're looking for. However, every property is different, and there are other solutions available as well.

What is the technical term for drainage ditch?

Culvert: Pipe or concrete box structure which drains open channels, swales, or ditches under a roadway or embankment typically with no catch basins or manholes along its length. Ditch: a long narrow excavation dug in the earth for drainage of stormwater runoff.

What is a trench for drainage?

A trench drain system is an linear drainage system used to remove excess surface water from an area, by use of a channel & grate. Without a drain, water can pool- potentially leading to damage to building foundations, driveways, and other structures.

What is underground drainage called?

Subsurface Drain (SSD) - A pervious backfield trench, usually containing stone and perforated pipe, for intercepting groundwater or seepage. Surface Runoff - Precipitation that flows onto the surfaces of roofs, streets, the ground, etc., and is not absorbed or retained by that surface but collects and runs off.

What is a Trench Drain? An intro to trench drain systems

What is a trench around a house for drainage?

We recommend digging it about one foot wide and 18 inches deep. The wider the trench, the easier it is to collect water and the lower the chance of clogging. Your trench needs to be lined with water-permeable landscaping fabric in order to prevent damage caused by grass and plant roots.

What is a plumbing trench?

A trench drain is a linear drainage application used to catch, collect and convey water from a starting location to and an outlet or catch basin. These linear drains are made up of primarily channels, end caps, end outlets, grates, catch basins and some other installation accessories.

How much does it cost to dig a trench for drainage?

The average cost to dig a trench is $950 per 100 linear feet, but prices can range from $400 to $1,200 depending on the purpose of your project, such as a drainage system or laying gas pipes. You should budget anywhere from $5 to $12 per linear foot to dig a trench or $13 to $40 per linear foot for major projects.

How to build a trench for water drainage?

7 Steps for Digging a Drainage Trench
  1. Step 1: Determine the Location and Size of the Trench. ...
  2. Step 2: Prepare the Trench. ...
  3. Step 3: Excavate the Trench. ...
  4. Step 4: Line the Trench With Landscape Fabric. ...
  5. Step 5: Create a Gravel Bed. ...
  6. Step 6: Install the Drain Pipe. ...
  7. Step 7: Cover the Trench.

What is a drainage tunnel called?

A drainage tunnel, called an emissary in ancient contexts, is a tunnel or channel created to drain water, often from a stagnant or variable-depth body of water. It typically leads to a lower stream or river, or to a location where a pumping station can be economically run.

What is the land that drains into a river called?

A watershed is the area of land from which water drains into a river, stream, or other waterbody. Water flows from the land into a waterbody by way of rivers and streams, and underground through groundwater aquifers.

What is a landscape drain called?

Yard drains are also called catch basins. As that name implies, the purpose of this drain is to 'catch' excess surface water in a basin and redirect it. The catch basin acts like a sewer drain and directs the water through a pipe sloping away from the basin.

What is a concrete drainage ditch called?

In essence, a trench drain consists of a large trench that has a drain channel set in place with concrete. This channel can be very narrow or very wide and is usually covered with a heavy metal grate.

What is a stormwater trench?

Subcategory: Infiltration. Description. An infiltration trench typically consists of a gravel-filled trench that allows stormwater to soak into the ground. Various infiltration trench designs exist; a design may include an overflow, an underdrain or vegetation.

What is the drain line called?

House Sewer

All of the various drains in your home end up in your sewer line, and thus it's arguably the single most important part of your drain system. This is also sometimes referred to as your “sewer main.”

How deep should I dig a drainage trench?

Dig a Trench

The trench should be about 18 inches deep and 9 to 12 inches wide. least 1 percent, so the force of gravity will work for you. This means that the drain should slope down a total of at least one inch for every 10 feet of pipe.

How long does it take to trench 100 feet with a trencher?

How Long to Dig a Trench: Planning Your Project. It takes 10 to 12 hours to dig a 100-foot trench by hand. Renting a trencher can reduce the time down to two to three hours. Wet the soil the day before trenching to speed up the project.

What are the 4 types of trenches?

Trainees learned to dig many types of trenches representing different sections found on the battle line: front line, support, and reserve trenches all connected by communication trenches and tunnels.

What is a trench for water called?

A ditch is a small to moderate trench created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation.

What does a trench drain look like?

Trench drains may also be called channel drains and are an above-ground drainage solution. Its materials are embedded in the ground within a long, narrow trench. It has a grated covering that may look like guttering.

Are trench drains expensive?

Radius Trench Drain

This is a complex drain design that allows the drain to follow a curve in a walkway or around something like a fountain. This kind of drain is usually about 2” to 24” in width and can be ornamental or plain. This drain type will typically cost anywhere from $30 to $150 per installed foot.

What is the drainage system around a house called?

Surface drains are the most common and widely used types of drains for residential areas, and there are many different types of systems that could be considered surface drains.

Do trench drains get clogged?

This part of drain maintenance is most commonly required for business locations, but even residential trench drains need to be cleaned out a few times a year on average. When trench drains are not cleaned up regularly, they can get clogged and lead to standing water or even damage to the drain system itself.

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