Drainage System Techniques

Sportsmen and sportswomen the world over enjoy playing on high quality sportsturf. In areas of high rainfall this usually means a well designed drainage system is required to enable play to continue all year round in all but the most extreme conditions.

Modern drainage systems frequently consist of three components:

Initially, piped drains are placed 5, 7 or 10 metres apart, which are then backfilled almost to the surface with free-draining gravel. This is then topped with free-draining sand or a sand and loam mix. This is known as the primary drainage system and is responsible for dealing with the main flow of water filtering from the surface.

The secondary drainage system incorporates a network of 50mm wide drainage slits, or 25mm wide drainage bands, into the upper soil structure. These are closely spaced allowing the surface water to permeate much faster into the primary drainage system below.

Finally, the addition of free-draining sand into the top 75-100mm of the soil helps to maintain a free-draining playing surface in all but the most extreme weather conditions.

Optimum results are achieved by carrying out all three steps. On most sports sites it is possible to design a system that is capable of removing 25mm of precipitation in one hour. The net result is minimum downtime for the sporting facility and a more consistent playing surface for all. The availability of 25mm land drainage pipe has allowed the development of systems that are a cross between primary and secondary drainage.

Shelton Sportsturf Drainage Solutions can provide the drainage system you require and supply award winning equipment that allows you to drain today and play tomorrow.

Please feel free to contact us today to discuss your specific requirements.