Stormwater Drainage Systems

Stormwater drainage systems are water-diversion systems that are used to help reduce the amount of surface water in a given area. This water can be diverted into tanks, diverted into drains, or allowed to run off of the surface of the ground. The water is then filtered through a system of pipes and drains. The pipes and drains collect the water and then send it to a water treatment facility or out to a river. The water can be diverted in various ways, it can be diverted by using a system of pipes and drains, or it can be diverted by using a natural system.

Stormwater drainage systems are used to help reduce the amount of surface water in a given area. This water can be diverted into tanks, ponds, or other collection areas to help keep the area dry. Stormwater drainage systems can also help to improve water quality by trapping pollutants and debris.

The History of Stormwater Drainage Systems

The history of stormwater drainage systems is one of the oldest engineering topics. Bronze Age engineers made extensive use of guttering, with hollowed-out stones to proto-drain water. The Greek and Roman empires utilized lead pipes and metal gutters to drain water, and in the 18th century, French civil engineer Pierre-Marie-Jérôme Trésaguet developed a system of using timber, bricks, and tiles to create a roof water drainage system.

The first modern stormwater drainage system, as we know it, was designed and installed by Philadelphia civil engineer John Lippincott in 1855 in the early 20th century.

Lippincott’s system relied on a network of underground pipes to collect and carry away rainwater and melting snow. The pipes were designed to quickly and efficiently move water away from urban areas and into rivers or other bodies of water.

Lippincott’s system revolutionized the way cities dealt with stormwater, and it is still used today in many municipalities across the world. This system was a major improvement over the open sewers and ditches that were used to collect stormwater in the past.

How Stormwater Drainage Systems Work

The stormwater drainage system is a complicated system that is interconnected with the sewage system. Stormwater is brought into the storm drain after it rains. Stormwater is collected from the roof, the ground, and rain barrels. The water is then collected in the storm drain. However, when the storm drains get too full, the stormwater flows over the curb and into the sewer system.

The stormwater drainage system is made up of a series of pipes that run under the streets. The pipes are connected to the storm drains on the street. The storm drains are in turn connected to the sewer system. Some manholes allow access to the pipes for maintenance.

The stormwater drainage system also collects the rainwater that falls on the streets. The water flows into the storm drains and then into the pipes. The water flows through the pipes until it reaches the sewer system.

The drainage system helps to reduce the amount of flooding on the streets. It also helps to prevent the water from getting into the sewer system.

Components of Stormwater Drainage Systems

The stormwater drainage system includes the following components:

  • A system of gutters and downspouts that collect the water from the roof and direct it away from the building
  • A drainage pipe that carries the water away from the building
  • A catch basin that captures the water from the drainage pipe
  • A storm sewer that carries the water away from the catch basin

The Importance of Storm Drainage

Stormwater drainage is important for a number of reasons:

  • One of the most important is that it helps to prevent flooding. When stormwater drainage is not working properly, it can cause streets and homes to flood. This can be a safety hazard and can also damage property.
  • Another important reason for proper stormwater drainage is that it helps to protect the environment. When stormwater runoff is not properly managed, it can contaminate rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. This can be harmful to the environment and to the creatures that live in these waters.
  • Stormwater drainage systems helps to ensure that rainwater and snowmelt flow away from buildings and communities, instead of pooling and causing damage.
  • Proper stormwater drainage can also help to improve water quality by reducing the number of pollutants such as bacteria that are carried by rainwater and snowmelt.
  • Finally, proper stormwater drainage is important for public health. When stormwater runoff is not managed properly, it can cause flooding and the spread of diseases. This can be dangerous for people who live in the area.

All of these reasons underscore the importance of proper stormwater drainage.

How Stormwater Drainage Makes Your Home Safer

Many communities in the United States and around the world are situated in flood plains, meaning they are very susceptible to flooding. One of the most important aspects of infrastructure in these areas is stormwater drainage. Stormwater drainage is a system of pipes and channels that redirects the stormwater from the storm drains to prevent flooding. A very important task engineers are tasked with is how to design stormwater drainage to allow for the most effective drainage of the water, but also keep it from flooding homes and other properties.

In addition to protecting your home from flooding, stormwater drainage can also help to improve the overall health and safety of your community. When the stormwater drainage system is working properly, it helps to keep the streets and sidewalks clear of excess water. This helps to reduce the risk of slips and falls, and it also helps to reduce the spread of bacteria and other contaminants.

Stormwater Drainage Systems in Cities


Stormwater drainage systems are an important part of any city. They are responsible for carrying excess rain and stormwater away from city streets and sidewalks. Without these systems, the city would be flooded with every rainstorm.

In most cities around the globe, there are a number of different components that make up a city’s stormwater drainage system. The most important part of the system is the storm sewer. The storm sewer is a large pipe that carries the stormwater away from the city. It empties into a storm drain, which takes the water to a river or creek.

Another important part of the system is the storm drain. The storm drain is a network of pipes and gutters that collects the stormwater from the streets and sidewalks. It then empties into the storm sewer.

There are also a number of smaller components that make up the stormwater drainage system. These include catch basins, manholes, and inlets. Catch basins are large pits that collect the stormwater from the streets. Manholes are small covers that allow access to the storm sewer. Inlets are the openings in the street that allow the stormwater to enter the storm drain.

Types of Stormwater drainage Systems

The following are the different types of stormwater drainage systems that can apply in dealing with stormwater problems in a home, community, or city. To implement an effective stormwater solution on your property or you are searching for a better alternative to your current stormwater drainage system, here are some of the most effective stormwater drainage systems:

Open Storm Drain

Open storm drains are drains that run parallel to the edge of a building or alongside a nearby road. They are usually long and open channels designed purposely to convey free-flowing stormwater. These channels usually direct stormwater into a local sewer system where it can be treated and recycled. Open storm drains are generally cheap to maintain but can be expensive to install.

They are great stormwater drainage setups for easy collection of surface water. Roads and paved areas can be sloped towards open storm drain for easy collection of runoff water. They are usually not safe and require fencing to keep vehicles, animals, and people from falling into them.

French Drain

One of the best ways to prevent water from flooding and pooling around the foundation of a building is the use of french drains. These types of stormwater drains are constructed by using small grates located near the foundation of the building. The grates channel the water into long pipes that convey stormwater away from around the building into a sewer system, street, or water retention basin.

The good side of using French drains is that the long pipes are always covered with aesthetically pleasing grasses or pebbles and with intricate, beautiful grates as well. French drains are mostly used for draining pooling water around a building foundation, which is not as effective when it comes to draining runoff or surface water over a wide area.

Closed Storm Drain

Most modern stormwater drainage systems are closed stormwater grates that lead to an underground sewer system. Most closed storm drain grates can be found in the trenches near sidewalks, low parking lots areas, and other areas where water tends to accumulate. They are safer and aesthetically appealing than open storm drains, but difficult to maintain and they are expensive and labor-intensive to install.

What are the four types stormwater drainage systems?

1. French storm drains
2. Open storm drains
3. Closed storm drains
4. Permeable pavement
5. Slot storm drains

What is the purpose of a storm drain?

Storm drains are meant to protect homes from flooding, and also to help improve the overall health and safety of a community

Where does water go in a storm drain?

Water in a storm drain can be collected into tanks, diverted into sewer systems or allowed to run off of the surface of the ground.

Stormwater drainage systems
underground stormwater drain