Drainage and Erosion Solutions

Dry creek bed Y

(Storm Water Management)

Chesapeake Bay sediment plume
Chesapeake Bay sediment plume from storm water runoff September 13, 2011.

Bedrock Siteworks is located in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. There is a significant relationship between land use in the watershed and the health of the bay. Two areas of land use figure prominently; agricultural use and construction.

For construction, the issue is containing storm water within property boundaries. In recent years, nearly every county or urban area within the watershed has created regulations that are aimed at keeping the Chesapeake Bay healthy and clean through severely limiting runoff. Any construction project likely requires a storm water management plan or assessment. Bedrock Siteworks provides these assessments and plans and designs and implements storm water containment plans.

In addition, managing water and how it drains is absolutely necessary to protect your structure. If rain water doesn’t drain away from your building, damage and erosion is very likely to occur. To protect your investment, we highly recommend a water management system to carry water away from your building so it does no damage. The needs are unique for every property. One may require just a re-grading, while another needs a French drain. We help you determine the water management system and erosion control that is best for you.

Drainage Solutions

We offer four types of storm water management or drainage solutions for your project and property. These options include: a dry creek bed, French drain system, pumped storm water collection, and storm water diversion.

Proper grading is crucial to proper storm water management and erosion control. We frequently grade to divert the water away from your structure. Using a berm or a swale in combination with grading may be a simple solution for your project.

Dry Creek Bed

Dry creek bed
A dry creek bed gives excess storm water places to drain and infiltrate back to the ground.

A dry creek bed funnels surface water from the edge of the property or the border of the structure. It works as a natural swale above ground to quickly divert surface water and can be aesthetically pleasing as well. Dry creek beds help to contain storm water and allow it to soak into the ground before it creates an erosion problem.

French Drain Filtration System

A French drain filtration system moves storm water to an area where it can soak back into the ground.

The French drain filtration system funnels runoff water from the roof of your structure into a piping system below the ground. It is then filtered through a clean-out enclosure with a removable lid, collecting any debris or sediment. The water then permeates down into the underground drain stone system. There is a slotted cap added to the end of the system in the case of overflow.

Building the French drain and trenches A project in Landenberg, PA illustrates this type of storm water management system where the roof water collects in spoutings and then is piped to a French drain. In addition to maximizing the pervious surface area of a property, this system also keep storm water away from the foundation of the house.

Pumped Storm Water Collection System

A pumped storm water collection system design is for conserving your own surface water. It features an underground holding tank and a pump. You can use the stored water and harvest it through the pumping system. This water can be reused to water your garden, fill your pool, or be redirected to an animal’s water trough. There are numerous options depending on what you are looking to get out of this storm water design.

Storm Water Diversion System

Storm Water Diversion System
Storm Water Diversion System

The storm water diversion system diverts water away from a structure and safely contains it to control erosion. It takes impervious water off of the roof, and into the downspout, thus redirecting it through an underground pipe that takes the water to an area where it can safely drain.

Site excavation and preparation with storm water management A project in Quakertown, PA uses this method to divert storm water from the roof of a new shed into an adjacent pond. The perimeter banks of the pond help to contain the additional water and a new spill-way at the far end allows excess water to flow to an area of wetlands. A unique and effective way to increase the pervious surface area.