Layout of Subsurface Drainage

System

Dr.B.S.Polisgowdar
Professor
Deptt. Of Irrigation and Drainage
Engineering
CAE, Raichur
 Benefis of Subsurface Drainage
• Aeration of the soil for maximum development of plant
roots and desirable soil micro-organisms;
• Increased length of growing season because of earlier
possible planting dates;
• Decreased possibility of adversely affecting soil tilth
through tillage at excessive soil water levels;
• Improvement of soil water conditions in relation to the
operation of tillage, planting and harvesting machines;
• Removal of toxic substances, such as salts, that in some
soils retard plant growth; and
• Greater storage capacity for water, resulting in less
runoff and a lower initial water table following rains.
Drainage enhances farm productivity
(a) adding productive land without extending
farm boundaries,
(b) increasing yield and quality of crops,
(c) permitting good soil management,
(d) ensuring that crops may be planted and
harvested at optimum dates, and
(e) eliminating inefficient machine operation
caused by small wet areas in fields.
Types of Subsurface Drainage Systems
• well drainage, open drains, pipe drains, and
mole drains
• Well drainage and mole drainage are applied
only in very specific conditions.
• Also, mole drainage is mainly aimed at a
rapid removal of excess surface water, not
controlling water table.
• The usual choice is between open drains and
pipe drains.
• This choice has to be made at two levels:
(a) for field drains, and
(b) for collectors.
• If the field drains are to be pipe drains, there are
still two options for the type of collectors:
(i) they can be open drains so that we have a
‘singular pipe-drain system’, or
(ii) they can be pipe drains so that we have a
‘composite pipe-drain system’.
• Open drains have the advantage that they can receive
overland flow directly, but the disadvantages often
outweigh the advantages.
• The main disadvantages are:
• loss of land,
• interference with the irrigation system,
• splitting-up of the land into small parcels that
hamper mechanized farming operations, and
• the burden of maintenance.
• Nevertheless, there are cases where open drains are
used exclusively, e.g., peat soils and very saline land
under a monoculture of rice.
 Moreover, a combined system of surface and subsurface
drainage may be more appropriate in certain field
situations.
• A soil profile with a layer of low permeability below the
root zone, but good permeability at drain depth:
• Areas with deep frost penetration and snow cover during
winter:
• Irrigated land in arid and semi-arid regions, where the
cropping pattern includes rice in rotation with ‘dry-foot’
crops
• Areas with occasional high-intensity rainfall that causes
water ponding on the land surface, even if a subsurface
drainage system is present:
 Layout of Pipe Drainage Systems
Singular Drainage Systems
• In a singular pipe drainage system, each field
pipe drain discharges into an open collector drain.
Composite Drainage Systems
• In a composite pipe drainage system, the field
pipe drains discharge into a pipe collector, which
in turn discharges into an open main drain. The
collector system itself may be composite with
sub-collectors and a main collector.
• The layout of a pipe drainage system is called a
‘random system’ when only scattered wet spots
of an area need to be drained, often as a
composite system.
• A regular pattern can be installed if the pipe
drainage network uniformly covers the project
area.
• Such a regular pattern can either be a ‘parallel
grid system’ wherein the field drains join the
collector at right angles, or a ‘herringbone
system’ wherein they join at sharp angles. Note
that both the regular patterns may occur as a
singular system or a composite system.
 Selection Criteria for Singular and Composite
Drainage Systems
• A singular system implies a comparatively dense
network of open collector drains (maximum
spacing in the order of 500 m).
• These open drains have disadvantages, but they
may be desirable for other reasons, for example,
to provide open water storage and additional
surface drainage in high-rainfall areas.
• A composite pipe system, supplemented by an
independent system of shallow surface drains
could be another option.
• Turning a natural network of open drains existing
before the introduction of a subsurface drainage
system (In many flat areas in temperate regions),
draining into open collectors may be convenient,
thereby deciding against a composite system.
• There are certain advantages and disadvantages
of a singular drainage system.
• Singular drainage system has many pipe outlets,
which are vulnerable to damage.
• Conversely, the maintenance of a singular system
is easier and can be done by using standard
flushing equipment.
• Another major consideration is that the
construction costs are normally higher for pipe
collectors, but the long-term maintenance costs
are much lower than for open collectors.
• Further, in low-lying flat areas, the costs of the
main drainage system and pumping station also
have to be considered.
• However, in irrigated areas with a rather complex
infrastructure of roads, irrigation canals, and small farm
plots composite systems are generally preferred.
• Open collector drains can interfere too much.
• Singular systems with open collector drains are feasible
in the areas where the infrastructure has been fully
remodelled under a land consolidation scheme, or in
newly reclaimed areas.
• Such considerations have led to a general practice of
selecting singular systems in the flat areas of
temperate climates and, occasionally, in the irrigated
land of arid regions, whereas composite systems are
selected in sloping land and, commonly, in the
irrigated land of arid regions
Location and Alignment of Drains
• Two main factors viz., topography and existing
infrastructure should provide guidance.
• Optimum use should be made of the existing
topography in order to achieve a depth-to-water
table as uniformly as possible throughout the
area.
• In the case of uneven topography, the drains will,
as much as possible, be situated in the
depressions.
Location of field drains in relation to
field topography

(A) Well-adapted; (B) Poorly adapted

Location of the collector adapted to
the contour lines
 Pipe drainage layout adapted to a
uniform slope

(A) Collector in the direction of the slope;

(B)Fielddrains in the direction of the slope;
(C) Collector and field drains at an angle to the slope
 Irrigation and drainage layout in a new land
consolidation area

(A)Composite drainage system with pipe collectors;

(B)Singular drainage system with open collectors.
Structures of Pipe Drainage Systems
(1) Pipe Outlets
The requirements of a good drain outlet are :
(i) to provide a free outlet with minimum maintenance,
(ii) to discharge outflow without serious erosion or
damage to the pipe
(iii) to keep out rodents and other small animals,
(iv) to protect the end of the drain against damage from
the tramping of livestock as well as excessive
freezing and thawing, and
(v) to prevent the entrance of flood water where the
outlet is submerged for several hours
The two main types of outlets for pipe drainage
systems are
• gravity outlet and pump outlet.
• Gravity outlets are the most common, which include
other pipe drains, artificial waterways, natural channels,
and wells.
• Pump outlets may be considered where the water level
at the outlet is higher than the bottom of the pipe outlet
for any extended period.
• Outlet ditches should have sufficient capacity to carry
surface runoff and drain flow.
• Where the drainage system is connected to other pipe
drains, the outlet should have sufficient capacity to carry
the additional discharge.
• Some type of grille or flap gate over the end is
desirable to prevent entry of rodents.
• If there is danger of flood water backing up into
the drain, an automatic flood or tide gate may be
installed in place of the flap gate.
• Moreover, the end of the outlet pipe should be 0.3 m or
more above the normal water level in the ditch.
• To prevent damage caused by high velocities in the ditch
or failure from snow loads, the exposed end of the pipe
should not extend beyond the bank more than one third
its total length.
• The minimum total length should be 5 m, and the
diameter should be the same or larger than the
drain pipe size. In connecting the metal pipe to
the drain, a concrete collar may be installed.

Collector outlet in a recessed area

• An additional requirement is that the outlet should not
obstruct the mechanical maintenance of the open drains.
Two possible solutions are as follows:
• Provision of a long outlet pipe: The outlet pipe should
be long enough so that the discharge does not fall on the
side slope, rather it should fall on the water surface of
the open drain. The additional length to the pipe outlet
should be provided such that it can be temporarily
removed to allow mechanical ditch cleaning.
• Provision of a drain pipe that does not protrude from the
side slope: In this case, the side slope is protected by a
chute made of flexible material such as plastic
reinforced with glass fiber.
 Pipe Connections
• There are two main types of connections: blind
junctions and manholes (or inspection chambers).
• Blind connections are direct connections between
field drains and collectors by means of cross-
joints or T-joints. It is recommended to have the
field drain inflow at a somewhat higher level than
the collector (a ‘drop-in’ of about 0.10 m).
• Blind connections can be provided with special
arrangements so that the field drains can be
cleaned by flushing without having to excavate
and dismantle the connection .
• A manhole allows inspection and maintenance of
the field drains and the collector. The lid may be
either above or below the land surface,
depending on the need for frequent inspection.
Closing Devices and Outflow Regulators
• Drain Bridges
• Surface-Water Inlets: Two possible types are blind inlets and open inlets.
• Blind inlet
•

• Open inlets

• Open inlets
• Blind inlet

•
• Depth and Spacing of Field Drains
• Pipe Diameter and Gradient
THANK YOU