How to drain an area of water with your own hands cheaply and effectively: installing drainage systems and other methods

When is it necessary to drain the area?

Large puddles appear in a suburban area when water does not seep into the ground during rains or floods. This happens if the soil is clayey or the groundwater level is high. And if the area is in a lowland, water flows onto it from above. The presence of large bodies of water or swamps nearby also affects the humidity level.

In all these cases, for normal living and harvesting, it is necessary to drain the area from groundwater. The problem can be detected in spring or autumn. Flooding usually occurs in the off-season, when the snow melts or there is a lot of rain. You can see places where moisture accumulates.

If a plot of land is purchased in the summer, you can also understand that it is flooded. This is detected by the following signs:

doors and frames are warped, cracks are visible on the walls;
smell of dampness, mold visible in the corners;
there is water in the basement;
a lot of mosquitoes, snakes, frogs;
Weeds are dominated by nettle, wormwood, hemlock, and also a lot of reeds.

Prolonged accumulation of moisture near the house will lead to the appearance of mold, unpleasant odor, and deformation Source stroyfora.ru

Selecting a drying method

Often, a moisture problem is discovered after purchasing a property. It needs to be resolved as soon as possible, before the water damages buildings and destroys plants. It is not difficult to drain a swampy area of water, but choosing a method for this, you need to take into account several factors:

cause of flooding;
soil features;
the depth of groundwater and the direction of its movement;
presence of bodies of water nearby;
size of the flooded area;
presence of buildings and vegetation.

Each case may require different methods. For example, if the site is in a swampy area, raising it or installing an open drainage system will help. And when the groundwater level is high, closed drainage systems are used, possibly even with a well and a pump for their forced removal. This method is also used in areas that are located in lowlands.

Important ! After draining the area, it is recommended to enrich the soil with fertilizers, since all nutrients are washed out of it with water.

Before choosing a method for draining a site, you need to study the characteristics of the soil and the reasons for moisture accumulation Source aquakomfort-spb.ru

First thing's first - plan!

First of all, having taken up the construction of the drainage system, they draw a diagram of the future drainage. At this stage, it is important not to make a mistake and take into account all the features of your landscape. Each territory is unique. For example, drainage of a site on a slope is just as necessary as on a completely flat one. Streams of water wash away the fertile layer and unevenly erode the soil. If you make gross miscalculations, you may have the opposite effect and the situation will not only not change, but will even worsen. This can be avoided by studying possible options, installation rules and principles, and then drawing your site drainage project.

First, determine what type of drainage system you will use: surface or deep site drainage (pipes will be required for site drainage).

How to arrange drainage

A drainage system is the most common and effective method of permanently draining a swamp in a summer cottage or near a country house. Drainage ensures the outflow of water outside the land. Typically, open or closed drainage systems are installed. There are also deep and point drainage, but they are used less frequently. The point of such drainage is that the water is discharged through a pipeline outside the site.

Open drainage

Open drainage is a system of ditches located on a slope. Through them, water flows into drainage wells or beyond the boundaries of the site. The distance between them is at least 6 m. It is better not to do them around buildings, this can lead to deformation of the foundation. Such ditches are made with sloping walls, the depth is at least 40-50 cm.

A variant of such a system is backfill drainage. The bottom of the ditch is laid out with geotextiles, then filled with gravel or stones to 2/3 of the depth. Fine gravel is poured on top, and then a layer of sand and soil.

The easiest way to drain the area is with trenches filled with gravel Source strojdvor.ru

This method is most often used if the soil is clayey. It helps drain water during floods and heavy rains, preventing the soil from becoming saturated with moisture. For soil with a lot of sand, this system is not used. This method is also not suitable for high groundwater levels.

The disadvantages of such a system include a reduction in the usable area of the site. This can be avoided by breaking a ditch near the fence. In addition, such trenches quickly become clogged with debris and leaves, and they have to be cleaned regularly.

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in landscape design and gardening.

Closed drainage

A closed drainage system is a more complex but effective way to remove excess moisture. It will quickly help remove water and prevent its further accumulation. This method is also used to lower the groundwater level.

Closed drainage is installed using special PVC pipes buried in the ground. There are holes on their walls through which water from the soil enters them. To prevent clogging, the pipes are wrapped in geotextile. They need to be buried below the soil freezing level. The ditches are located at a slope, directed towards drainage wells.

Advantages and disadvantages

Open (surface) moisture removal schemes are characterized by low cost and ease of installation. However, the list of shortcomings is much wider. It includes the following items:

The need to strengthen the walls of the recesses with trays or support. Otherwise, the trench will erode and begin to collapse.
Difficulty in free movement around the garden area.
Loss of aesthetics of a summer cottage.

Open circuits are easy to install.

Underground options for moisture removal are hidden, which is their advantage. An additional advantage of this solution is the effective removal of excess fluid. If the structure is in place, the likelihood of erosion is minimized.

The disadvantage of placing the structure underground is the costly installation.

Video description

You can see how to properly arrange drainage on a site in this video:
Step-by-step work on arranging a closed drainage system looks like this:

First you need to plan on paper the optimal passage of the ditches. They should be located no closer than 2.5 m from trees.
Then mark the area according to the plan.
Dig trenches.
Pour a layer of 10-15 cm of coarse sand.
Lay geotextiles and pour gravel on it.
Lay pipes wrapped in geotextile.
Fill the space around the pipes with medium gravel until there is 20 cm left to the ground level.
Cover with the edges of geotextile, fill the trench with small pebbles and soil.

To install a closed drainage system, special pipes are laid in trenches Source landscapevkazan.rf

Features of drainage system design

Before making drainage, especially if we are talking about a closed system, it is necessary to prepare a drainage diagram. When compiling it, it is recommended to rely on the standards prescribed in SNiP. There is also information about the quality, size and material of the structural elements of the drainage system. It is imperative that the project be accompanied by an estimate indicating the amount of materials and work (relevant when the work is carried out by specialists from an engineering company).

The scheme can be carried out on your own or with the assistance of an engineer. When compiling it, factors such as: data on the soil (composition), plan for the location of objects on the site, foundation diagrams of existing buildings, data on hydrogeological studies of the area are taken into account.

The project also indicates decorative objects, places for planting trees and shrubs, so that elements of drainage systems do not harm existing plantings. It is worth saying that a well-designed scheme is the key to ensuring that drainage from the site will be effective.

Construction of ponds, sewage pits or ditches

Owners of country houses are often interested in how to dry a plot of water with their own hands without drainage. This is also possible, but it is best to use such methods in the country, and not in a country house. This is digging ditches, sewage pits or decorative ponds. They can become not only a means of draining water, but also an element of landscape design. The choice of method depends on the characteristics of the site and the reason for the accumulation of moisture.

Note ! The disadvantage of this method is the need to regularly clean the resulting reservoirs. Without this, they will bloom, mosquitoes will appear, and there will be an unpleasant smell.

Wells

The easiest way is to dig holes in the lowest flooded areas. They should be cone-shaped, tapering downwards. The diameter at the surface is 2 m, the depth is at least 80-100 cm. Such pits can be decorated by turning them into decorative ponds. To avoid shedding and silting, their bottom is covered with gravel.

Ditches

Ditches are more difficult to dig, but such a system will drain excess water more efficiently. They are organized around the perimeter of the site. To prevent the walls from crumbling, they are reinforced with boards or concrete slabs. You can put a metal box on the bottom.

Drainage ditch beautifully designed to look like an artificial stream Source kndlandscaping.com

A variant of this drainage method is the installation of decorative streams. This is appropriate if the site is located on a slope. The bottom of the artificial stream is laid out with pebbles, pebbles or geotextiles. It is recommended to arrange streams under trees, as in a sunny place the water will bloom.

Storm water drainage

According to the classification, it is also classified as open drainage (but it has a significant difference - trays, grates and sand traps) and surface drainage. It is used for local collection and removal of water coming from above: rain, snow, car washing, watering paths with a hose. Therefore, such drainage is always done in the foundation area, on paths and paved areas, in garages and around garages, even on lawns - and is divided into two types: point and linear.

Most often, surface drainage of both types is required - point and linear.

Spot surface drainage

Small square, rectangular or round water collectors (rain inlets) are point-installed in the required places: under drainpipes, water taps, on platforms, paths, near garages, and so on. As a rule, they are connected to storm sewers. Catchment grates are usually made of plastic, but where special loads are expected, steel, aluminum, and cast iron are used.

Point surface drainage with cast iron grate under the drain - an effective design

The rain inlet has a fairly simple structure.

Storm water inlet device for point drainage: grate, sand trap, pipe

Point and linear storm inlets must be equipped with a sand trap to prevent the pipes from becoming clogged: then the drainage efficiency will drop to zero. In a point rainwater inlet, the sand trap is placed in the body itself. It is impossible to do without them.

Moisture-loving plants

If you are wondering how to drain a site with your own hands at no cost, you can consider the option of planting moisture-loving plants. This method will be effective only in small swamps and if there is no urgent need to remove water.

By using plants that require a lot of water, you can lower the groundwater level and speed up the drying out of the area after rains and floods. This will also help decorate the area. Willow, maple, poplar, alder and birch are used.

If you need plants that grow faster, you can plant shrubs: hawthorn, viburnum, serviceberry, rose hips. This is an ideal way not only to reduce the amount of water on the site, but also to create a hedge. There are also moisture-loving herbaceous plants. These are perennial flowers: iris, aster, aquilegia. You can plant cranberries and blueberries.

To remove excess moisture, moisture-loving plants are planted on the site Source yandex.net

Raising the area

If the groundwater level is high or if the area is very swampy, only raising the site can help. It is backfilled with soil. This is a complex and expensive method, but effective. It consists of several stages.

Drawing up a detailed plan indicating aquifers, clayey areas, voids.
Demolition of all buildings, clearing of debris.
Laying a drainage system, preferably a closed type.
Before backfilling begins, a strip foundation is laid around the perimeter of the site.
Then the soil is covered in layers of 10-15 cm. Sand and crushed stone are usually used. Each layer is laid with geotextiles, compacted, and compacted. After this, you need to wait 2-3 weeks for the soil to shrink.
Fertile soil is poured on top.
Then you need to sow the soil with cereal crops. They have an extensive root system that will secure the fill.

To get rid of excess moisture, you may need to raise the level of the area Source marc2000.ru

Rules of care

Drainage structures will function properly for many years if the basic rules are followed during operation:

the top layer of soil must remain loose throughout the entire time so that moisture is absorbed as best as possible, which means moving heavy equipment directly over it should be prevented;
collectors and wells must be regularly cleaned of contaminants, otherwise maintaining the system may be difficult;
Pipelines should be cleaned every 10-15 years.

Inspection drainage well at the bend

The choice of cleaning method largely depends on the location of the drains and their design features. Contaminants from elements located on the surface can be removed manually without the involvement of professionals. If the components of the system are deepened into the ground, then the measures become more complicated. The work may require a special installation with a cleaning roller that can remove deposits from the internal surfaces of the pipes.

This pump can be used to clean drainage wells

Briefly about the main thing

If the site is located on clay soils or in a lowland, it may need to be drained.

This procedure is complex, but quite feasible. If you choose the right drainage method, taking into account the characteristics of the soil and the depth of groundwater, you can get rid of the problem.

For this purpose, open or closed drainage is most often used, ensuring the outflow of water into drainage wells.

If the area is very waterlogged, it may need to be raised. And to get rid of moisture during rains, it is enough to plant moisture-loving plants on the site.

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Typical errors

The desired result will not be achieved if one or more of the following shortcomings are allowed:

no slope in the direction of the catchment basins;
insufficient depth of pipes;
using a drain diameter or perforation that is not suitable for a particular soil type;
ignoring crushed stone bedding and installation of geotextiles;
insufficient number of drainage elements;
accelerated filling of the drainage well.