Even after building and perfecting their house and slice of land, every homeowner must anticipate the encroachment of natural forces, including stormwater runoff. Doing so will require property adjustments and installations, including land grading, downspout extensions, or a drainage swale. With these adjustments and features in place, only simple maintenance—removing obstructions and overgrowth, tending to nearby vegetation, and more—is necessary to protect structures and landscapes.
Burke, VA, home- and business owners can rely on Drainage & Erosion Solutions to solve wet property issues. We employ experienced and certified engineers and contractors year-round, allowing us to fulfill requests ASAP. Plus, since our firm comprises design and build departments, we operate as a one-stop shop for our customers’ drainage needs. To learn more about our options or schedule a consultation, call (703) 534-1949 today!
Below, we describe drainage swales’ uses and operation as well as how you can care for drainage swales on your property:
What Is a Drainage Swale?
Although their conception and operating principles are simple, the types of drainage swales are multifaceted. Additionally, various professionals use the same terms to refer to different designs, further muddling the types and distinctions. So, we’ll keep our definitions and distinctions straightforward here.
The simplest swales appear similar to drainage ditches, wherein a channel dug into the ground conveys runoff water using gravity. Yet drainage swales not only channel but also treat water through artificial or natural features. Their treatment removes some impurities and pollutants from runoff, a critical step depending on where the swales deposit the water.
Traditional swales only used grass and some moisture-friendly plants for treatment, which offered mixed effectiveness. However, modern installations enhance drainage through additional features. For example, dry swales incorporate permeable soil and stone as well as an underdrain system, which also increases their runoff capacity.
Although we adjust our process for each property’s needs, Drainage & Erosion often installs dry swales for our customers. This type works well for residential drainage swale design, allowing our contractors to incorporate landscape slopes while avoiding natural obstacles.
Steps for Maintaining Your Drainage Swales
Maintaining drainage swales prevents property flooding, encourages landscape irrigation, and reduces erosion. These consequences, in turn, protect your home from the damaging effects of improper landscape drainage.
Drainage swale maintenance involves simple measures:
- Remove sediment, litter, and debris from in and around the swale, including along inflow areas or pipes
- Remove weeds and plants (especially invasive species) from the swale
- Mow nearby grass no shorter than 2 to 3 inches
- Check the swale and drainage area after storms, repairing damages as necessary
- Have a service professional inspect the installation annually
- If your development is still under active construction and water sits in municipal drainage for over 48 hours after a storm, contact the developer
Drainage Swale Solutions Available in Burke, VA!
Although flooding and heavy runoff can seem insurmountable at first, a professional drainage swale installation can bring them under control. Burke, VA, residents and business owners can rely on Drainage & Erosion Services for all their drainage needs: waterproofing, French drains, downspout extensions, and more. Our team of engineers and contractors creates customized solutions for every client to ensure their property remains proofed against flooding. Call (703) 534-1949 or visit our website today to start getting your landscape erosion under control!
