Use a silt collection box for groundwater pooling on the edge of the driveway
When groundwater from heavy rain runs across your driveway and pools along the edge of your driveway, consider a silt collection box installation. This type of groundwater removal installation can provide a way to gravity flow groundwater using a silt collection box with 3″-4″ abs pipe and 3″ ads solid flexible pipe, venting the groundwater to a hand excavated drywell or daylighted vent, rather than the groundwater flooding your driveway, lawn, or garage.
In most cases the groundwater runs across the driveway to one side or the other. While a channel drain system can be installed in the driveway itself, the channel drain system is many times not the best solution to remove pooling groundwater, as the channel drains sold for this purpose most often have more plastic than air space for the collection of groundwater.
Channel drains also need to be installed by making a concrete or asphalt cut/remove in the driveway wide enough to facilitate the excavation below grade for pouring a footing about 12″ wide and 6″ deep under the proposed installation. This will prevent the channnel drain from rocking side to side.
In addition it is recommended that concrete or asphalt be installed 12″ in width on both sides of the channel drain system and poured new against the channel drains to provide support for the plastic channel drain system.
The channels are lengths about 5″-6″ wide and 4-5 feet long, and are most often flat, spilling out when full to the end containing the vent pipe. They are not my favorite way of collecting groundwater, as they also crack in time with age and constant car traffic over them.
A silt collection box is made of abs plastic, and has an opening that is a grate. When the top is opened, debris can be removed from the bottom collection area. The groundwater builds up, and flows out, above the collection basin allowing you to keep your discharge vent clean. Because of this advantage, the system lasts for many more years than a channel drain system, without plugging the vent pipe with drbris. Although the tops come off a channel drain as well, they do not stop the silt as well, and therefore the vents clog quicker.
Silt collection boxes come in round or square, green or black, and in a variety of sizes depending on the volume of groundwater being vented.
If the concrete or asphalt in your driveway slopes to the opposite side of the driveway than where the system will vent, a concrete or asphalt cut will need to be made. The solid abs pipe, usually a 3″, is plumbed to grade, sloping under the replaced asphalt or concrete driveway.
With this installation, there is no channel drain to replace ever. Pour concrete or asphalt around the silt collection box installed at the edge of the driveway for stability and longivity. About 6″ around the sides should normally do the job, unless it is a very large silt collection box. Most homeowners would require a 6″-9″ silt collection box. Larger sizes are available for industrial and commercial use mainly.