Storm sewage in a private house: composition, do-it-yourself device

So that there is no flood on the site after each rain, so that the foundation does not get wet and does not collapse, it is necessary to ensure the removal of precipitation. For this, rainwater is needed. We can see it in cities – this is a system of water intake devices and canals. Storm sewerage in a private house is smaller, but its essence is the same. This is not to say that it is easy to do, but you can do it yourself, especially if you have already done something on the site with your own hands. 

What is a private house storm sewer system and what is it like

In regions with a high amount of precipitation, it is necessary to divert rain and melt water somewhere. If this is not done, the paths are gradually destroyed, the earth in the yard becomes limp, and then dries out for a long time. If you still do not make a blind area around the house, rainwater will wash and gradually destroy the foundation. In general, storm sewers in a private house are the key to the longevity of your home, order and neat appearance on your site. This type of engineering systems is also called stormwater or rainwater drainage.

The composition of the system is as follows:

• Roof drain systems. These are gutters fixed along the bevels, into which rainfall from the roof is collected. They flow down through the installed funnels and drainpipes.
• A certain number of precipitation receivers on the ground (receiving funnels, storm water inlets, linear drainage systems, sand traps). They are arranged in such a way as to receive precipitation as efficiently as possible. Typically, point receivers or funnels are placed under drainpipes, several receivers are placed on concrete, asphalt sites, where paving slabs are laid. Linear receivers are placed along the tracks, and in order for the water to drain normally, the coating is laid with a slight slope.
• A system for storing, redistributing or dumping sediments.
  

Where to put water

Most of the questions arise with what to do with the rapidly pouring precipitation. Firstly, a storm sewer in a private house can become a supplier of water for irrigation. To do this, all the pipes of the system are reduced to a large container or several containers, and from there, using a pump, they can be pumped into the irrigation system.

Secondly, if there is nothing to water or nowhere to put such a volume of liquid, it is possible to divert storm water into a centralized sewer, a gutter located near a reservoir. If these opportunities cannot be realized, they arrange a system for discharging water into the ground. These are perforated plastic pipes buried below ground level.

Types and their features

Storm sewers in a private house can be of three types:

• Underground. All parts of the system are below ground level. From the point of view of aesthetics, this is excellent, but it requires a large amount of land work and fairly large investments. It is possible to equip such a system during construction or a complete alteration of the site. There are two types – freezing and not. Freezing in winter and early spring do not work, but their device is simpler – the depth of occurrence is usually less than a meter (minimum – 30 cm). For non-freezing storm drains, laying pipes below the freezing depth of soils is required. For each region it has its own, for Central Russia – about 150-170 cm. The pros and cons are immediately clear – a large amount of land work, and therefore their high cost.
  

  

• Overhead. Storm drains of this type are drainage gutters in the coating, through which water flows to a certain place or is discharged into the garden / vegetable garden.
  

  

• Mixed. Part of the rain sewer is made in the ground, part – from above. The best option both in terms of costs and in appearance, and in terms of the amount of funds required.

In each case, you have to design your own scheme – there is no single recipe. Each has its own site with its features: the absorbency of the soil, relief, building, layout.

What exactly needs to be done is to divert water away from the house. This can be done as in the photo above – by installing gutters in the path and draining water onto the lawn. But this is just one of many options. The second place where it is desirable to divert water is a vast paved area. As a rule, large puddles form here, which are difficult to deal with. You can solve the problem by making one or more water collection points – put point storm water inlets and divert water according to one of the recipes.

Combined or separate

Often in a private house it is necessary to do three drainage systems at once:

• sewer;
• drainage;
• storm.

Often they run parallel or are located close to each other. Naturally, there is a desire to save money and combine storm water with some other. In particular, to use an existing well. It must be said right away that it is better not to do this. Why? During a rainstorm, water comes at a very high speed. On average – from 10 cubic meters per hour (maybe more). At this rate of water flow, the well fills up very quickly. Sometimes it overflows.

If the discharge goes into the sewer well, water begins to flow into the sewer pipes. It will not rise above the ground level, but you will not be able to lower anything – everything will be in the plumbing. After the water level drops, debris remains inside. It interferes with the normal operation of the sewer, you have to clean it. Not the most pleasant thing to do.

If the discharge goes to a drainage well, the situation is even worse. During a rainstorm, water enters the system under high pressure. It fills the pipes, then pours out under the foundation, washing it away. You can imagine the consequences. There are still not so obvious things. For example, silting of drainage pipes. It is impossible to clean them, you have to change them. And this is a big expense and a lot of work.

So from all that has been said, we can conclude. The first is that storm sewers in a private house should have their own well. The second – it is desirable that it be large. This is if you are not lucky to have a pond, lake or river nearby.

Stormwater components and their types

All elements of storm sewers in a private house must be connected to the system. Here’s what it might be:

• Well. It must be large. How much depends on the amount of rainfall, the size of the roof and the area from which water is collected. Most often it is made of concrete rings. It is distinguished from the water one only by the need to make the bottom. For this, you can put the bottom ring down (there are factory ones), or you can fill the stove yourself. Another option is plastic wells for rainwater drainage. They are buried to the required depth, anchored (chained) to flooded concrete pads – so as not to “float”. The solution is good because there is no need to worry about the tightness of the seams – such vessels are completely sealed.
  

  

• A hatch over a storm well. It is best to take a ring and a separate hatch (plastic, rubber or metal – your choice). In this case, you can dig in the rings so that the upper edge of the installed cover is 15-20 cm below the ground level. Under the installation of the hatch, you will have to lay out a brick or pour a neck out of concrete, but the lawn planted on top will feel good and will not differ in color from the rest of the planting. If you take a ready-made cover with a hatch, you can pour only 4-5 cm of soil. On such a layer of soil, the lawn will differ in color and density, paying attention to what is under it.
  

  

• Point storm water inlets. These are relatively small containers that are installed in places where precipitation accumulates. They are placed under drainpipes, at the lowest points of the site. Storm water inlets can be made of plastic or concrete. Concrete is used for deep storm drains. They are put one on one, achieving the required height. Although today there are already built-in plastic storm water inlets.
  

  

• Linear storm water inlets or drainage channels. These are plastic or concrete gutters. These devices are installed in places of the greatest amount of precipitation – along the roof overhangs, if a drainage system is not made, along the footpaths. Can be installed under gutters as gutters. This option is good if, during the construction of the blind area around the house, pipes were not laid to drain water. In this case, the receivers are placed outside the blind area, and the second end of the tray is connected to it. This is a way to make a storm sewer without destroying the blind area.
  

  

• Sand traps. Special devices in which sand is deposited. They usually put plastic cases – they are inexpensive, but reliable. They are installed at some distance from each other on long sections of the pipeline. Sand and other heavy inclusions are deposited in them. These devices need to be cleaned periodically, but this is much more convenient than cleaning the entire system.
  

  

• Lattices. In order for water to drain better, the holes in the grate should be large. They are:
  • cast iron, a good option, but the paint does not last longer than 2-3 years even on the most expensive ones;
  • steel – the worst option, as they rust very quickly;
  • aluminum alloys are the most durable and have a consistently good appearance, but also the most expensive.
    

    

• Pipes. For storm sewers, it is best to install polyethylene pipes for outdoor use (red). Their smooth walls do not allow precipitation to accumulate, and they also have a greater conductive capacity than pipes of the same diameter from other materials. Cast iron and asbestos pipes are also used. A little about the diameter of the pipes for storm water. It depends on the amount of precipitation, the branching of the system. But the smallest diameter is 150 mm, and better – more. The pipes are laid with a slope of at least 3% (3 cm per meter) towards the storm water inlets, and then towards the well.
  

  

• revision wells. These are small plastic or concrete wells, which are placed on an extended section of the pipeline, at the points of branching of the system. Through them, if necessary, clean the pipes.
  

  

Storm sewers in a private house do not always contain all these devices, but a system of any configuration and complexity can be built from them.

Construction order

In general, you first need to create a project. If there is no possibility or desire to use the services of professionals, draw it to scale (on a piece of paper or in one of the programs). So you can pretty accurately determine what you need and how much. Having purchased the necessary materials, you can start work.

First install the drainage system. Then begins the installation of storm sewers. It makes sense to carry out this work simultaneously with the laying of drainage and sewer systems, as well as to carry out preparation work for laying paths and blind areas. All of these jobs require soil removal, so why not do it all at once?

If other systems are already ready or they are simply not needed, trenches can be dug. They should be 10-15 cm more than the required depth. Crushed stone is poured into the bottom of the trenches, and pipes are laid in it, and devices are installed. Crushed stone will neutralize the heaving forces: it always remains mobile, so that under loads it simply moves from place to place. As you know, the load devices installed in it almost do not feel.

When installing storm water inlets, they are concreted. Formwork is placed around, poured with a layer of concrete of 15-20 cm. It must be calculated so that the finish coating that you are going to lay normally “lies”.