STORM

DRAINAGE
SYSTEM DESIGN
 What is Drainage System?
There are two uses for a drainage
system as part of existing and developing
urban systems or cities. Drainage systems
are in place to remove the excess water in
development. This could be floodwater,
rainwater, and different kinds of run off.
Drainage systems are also in place to
remove wastewater effectively, and this is
referred to as a sewer system.
 Background

Storm drainage systems for transportation

facilities collect stormwater flowing within
and along the highway right-of-way and Drainage Road Inlet.
transfer it to a suitable discharge point. A
storm drainage system collects water either
from the road using drainage inlets or from
the surrounding drainage area using area
drains. 

Drainage Area Drain.

A proper highway drainage design will help to
reduce many of the effects of an inadequate
road drainage system, including:

· Water flowing from the roadway onto

adjacent properties

· Water ponding behind the roadway curbs

· Hazards and delay to traffic caused by

excessive ponding in sag points or excessive
spread on the roadway.

. Weakening of the base and subgrade caused

by frequent long-duration ponding of water
 Purpose of Storm Drainage System
The purpose of any storm water
design should be to make every
reasonable effort to promote the
safety of the traveling public by
providing adequate drainage
performance in the most cost-
effective way. The storm drainage
system for a roadway project may be
organized based upon outlet points
for each individual segment. Each
segment of the roadway drainage
system will have an outlet to either a
Storm Drain Outlet
side ditch or a cross drain. 
In general, this is accomplished by:

· Placing inlets at the locations and intervals

necessary to control spread by intercepting
flows
· Providing storm drain pipes adequately
sized to transport flows from the inlets to
suitable outlet locations
· Determine appropriate drainage areas for
the system
· Determine newly designed roadway runoff
· Determine adequate piping size to handle
water runoff
· Determine proper location for water inlets
·  Determine existing rainfall outlets
 Benefits of Storm Drainage

A storm drainage system that supports

the newly designed 60’ wide roadway, as
well as the water flow that would occur
from the population expansion within the
area. The drainage system will have less
negative environmental impact and
properly handle the water rainfall so that
there aren’t any negative impacts on the
public.
The overall drainage system can be
separated into two subsystems:

1. Minor Storm System

The Minor system is typically designed to

carry runoff from 10 year frequency storm
events and its components make up the
majority of what people consider the
drainage system. 
2. Major Storm System

The Major system provides overland

relief of storm water flows that would
exceed those of the Minor system
and are normally designed to have a
capacity of a 100 year frequency
storm event.  

The main function involved with the

Major system is flood water relief.  It
is typically provided by streets,
surface swales, ditches, streams,
and/or other flow conduits which
provide a relief mechanism and flow
path for flood waters.
 Drainage Planning and Design
General procedure for drainage system design on a
development site.
1. Analyze topography
Check off-site drainage pattern. Where is water coming
onto the site? Where is water leaving the site?

b) Check on-site topography for surface runoff and

storage, and infiltration

1. Determine runoff pattern; high points, ridges, valleys,

streams, and
swales. Where is the water going?

2. Overlay the grading plan and indicate watershed

areas; calculate
square footage (acreage), points of concentration, low
points, etc.
Drainage Planning and Design
c) Check potential drainage outlets and
methods

1. On-site (structural control, receiving water)

2. Off-site (highway, storm drain, receiving

water, regional control)

3. Natural drainage system (swales)

4. Existing drainage system (drain pipe)

Drainage Planning and Design
b) Check on-site topography for surface runoff and
storage, and infiltration

1. Determine runoff pattern; high points, ridges,

valleys, streams, and swales. Where is the water
going?

2. 2. Overlay the grading plan and indicate watershed

areas; calculate square footage (acreage), points
of concentration, low points, etc.
Drainage Planning and Design
(2) Analyze other site conditions.

a) Land use and physical obstructions such as walks,

drives, parking, patios,
landscape edging, fencing, grassed area, landscaped
area, tree roots, etc.

b) Soil type determines the amount of water that can

be absorbed by the soil.

c) Vegetative cover will determine the amount of slope

possible without erosion.
Drainage Planning and Design

(3) Analyze areas for probable location of drainage

structures and facilities.

(4) Identify the type and size of drainage system

components that are required. Design
the drainage system and integrate with the overall
stormwater management system
and plan.
Thank You