View Full Version : The History of the Birmingham Road Drainage System from 1970 - 1990


smysticed
February 27th, 2008, 01:46 AM
In homage to Flying Tackle :)

Guys, I expect some really interesting info and debate on here.

http://www.henniker.org.uk/images/places/local_a/ed_west/CorstorphineRoad00.jpg

Telfordboy
February 27th, 2008, 10:04 AM
Wow, what a great idea for a thread :happy: ;)

flying tackle
February 27th, 2008, 05:03 PM
hahahaha...

Bachy Soletanche
February 27th, 2008, 06:43 PM
large Diameter Drainage construction pic:-

http://www.mcdermott-construction.co.uk/images/hamshall/large_diameter_drainage_construction.jpg

http://www.mcdermott-construction.co.uk/hamshall.htm

Erebus555
February 27th, 2008, 07:42 PM
Some of the drainage systems that we consider pretty standard nowadays were pioneered on the construction of the Small Heath Highway. :yes:

flying tackle
February 27th, 2008, 08:44 PM
im sure if i tired hard enough id think of a topic that you guys didnt know about..

so anyway whos up for secretly boosting our post counts on this thread?

cookoid_0
February 28th, 2008, 02:29 AM
I think this is great thread. After all, we are all geeks here arent we? Not sure we are going to be able to get many piccys on this one though. Snap happy gay geeks with digital cameras is a fairly recent phenomenon. :)

smysticed
February 28th, 2008, 02:47 AM
Officially only 37.93% of the forum is gay, and that doesn't include me :) I am a geek with a camera though. Time for some pictures of drains :D

Bulldozer
February 28th, 2008, 04:20 AM
Some Storm water Attenuation tanks from a recent job, Alot of schemes now have to have measures to reduce immediate runoff int the storm sewer's to reduce the load on the system and prevent overloading. the tank's are designed to realease at a controled rate the stored water.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb264/Daveb_design/Misc/DSCF0198.jpg
These were nearly the full length of a large block of student flats. and about 1.5 m Diameter IIRC.

Telfordboy
February 28th, 2008, 10:24 AM
^^ We make people do that :happy:

Who wants a lecture on the benefits SuDS over traditional drainage systems?

smysticed
February 28th, 2008, 12:20 PM
Me, me! I do! Tell us a story Uncle Telford!

Telfordboy
February 28th, 2008, 12:45 PM
Ok, you asked for it...

(Clears throat)

Traditional drainage practice is designed to move rainwater as rapidly as possible from the point at which it has fallen to a discharge point, either a watercourse or soakaway. This approach has a number of adverse impacts:

run-off from hard paving and roofing can increase the risk of flooding downstream, as well as causing sudden rises in water levels and flow rates in watercourses
surface water run-off can contain contaminants such as oil, organic matter and toxic metals. Although often at low levels, cumulatively they can result in poor water quality in rivers and groundwater, affecting biodiversity, amenity value and potential water abstraction. After heavy rain, the first flush is often highly polluting
by diverting rainfall to piped systems, the amount of water infiltrating the ground is reduced, depleting ground water and reducing flows in watercourses in dry weather
As a result, many urban watercourses are lifeless and unattractive, and are often hidden in culverts under the ground.

The SUDS approach to drainage incorporates a wide variety of techniques. As a result, there is no one correct drainage solution for a site. In most cases, a combination of techniques will be required.

The prevention of run-off requires careful consideration of the need to pave a surface – a gravel surface for a car park may be an acceptable alternative – and the disposal of roofwater. For example, it may be possible to discharge roofwater onto a lawn, where it can soak into the ground.

Green roofs and rainwater re-use
Green roofs can improve water quality and reduce the peak flow and the total volume discharged from a roof.

In addition, they can enhance insulation and increase the lifespan of the roof. Rainwater reuse (or harvesting) involves the collection and storage of rainwater on site and its use as a substitute for mains water, for example in watering gardens or for flushing toilets

Permeable pavements
The need for surface water drains and off-site sewers can be reduced or eliminated where run-off is encouraged to permeate through a porous pavement, such as permeable concrete blocks, crushed stone or porous asphalt.

Depending on the ground conditions, the water may infiltrate directly into the subsoil or be stored in an underground reservoir (for example, a crushed stone layer) before slowly soaking into the ground. If infiltration is not possible or appropriate (for example, because of ground contamination), an impermeable membrane can be used with an overflow to keep the pavement free from water in all conditions. Pollutant removal occurs either within the surfacing or sub-base material itself, or by the filtering action of the reservoir or subsoil.

Infiltration trenches
An infiltration trench is a shallow, excavated trench that has been filled with stone to create an underground reservoir.

Stormwater entering the trench is gradually infiltrated into the ground. Their longevity can be enhanced by providing pre-treatment of the stormwater using a filter strip, gully or sump pit to remove excessive solids.

Filter Drains
Filter drains are widely used by highway authorities for draining roads.

They are similar structures through which a perforated pipe runs. This facilitates the storage, filtering and some infiltration of water passing from the source to the discharge point. Pollutants are removed by absorption, filtering and microbial decomposition in the surrounding soil. Systems can be designed to successfully incorporate both infiltration and filter systems.

Swales and basins
These can be created as features within the landscaped areas of the site, or they can be incorporated into ornamental, amenity and screen-planted areas where they would be looked after as part of the normal maintenance contract. Swales and basins are often installed as part of a drainage network connecting to a pond or wetland, prior to discharge to a natural watercourse.


Swales
Swales are grassed depressions which lead surface water overland from the drained surface to a storage or discharge system, typically using the green space of a roadside margin.

They may be used to replace conventional roadside kerbs, saving construction and maintenance costs. Compared to a conventional ditch, a swale is shallow and relatively wide, providing temporary storage, conveyance, treatment and the possibility of infiltration under suitable conditions.


Basins
A basin is designed to hold back storm runoff for a few hours and to allow the settlement of solids.

They are dry outside of storm periods. They provide temporary storage for storm water, reduce peak flows to receiving waters, facilitate the filtration of pollutants (deposited and incorporated into the substrate) and encourage microbial decomposition, as well as allowing water infiltration directly into the ground.

I hope you found that stunnigly interesting :D

NeilM
February 28th, 2008, 06:36 PM
^^ After that, Telfordboy will embark on a nationwide tour (except Manchester ;)).

Telfordboy
February 28th, 2008, 07:49 PM
Yeah, those twats can drown in their pluvial flooding for all I care ;)

Brummyboy92
February 28th, 2008, 07:50 PM
LMAO, Slightly harsh

Telfordboy
February 28th, 2008, 07:52 PM
It was sort of a joke.

Erebus555
February 28th, 2008, 09:10 PM
It was sort of a joke.

:lol:

Thanks for the lecture! Looks like a copy and paste job though, to me! :no:

Telfordboy
February 28th, 2008, 09:58 PM
It was, but only because I couldn't be arsed/get away with typing the real thing while I was supposed to be working doing well pretty much that ^^ actually :|

I can give you the hand typed version if you want though.

flying tackle
February 28th, 2008, 10:10 PM
this information is quite interesting!

Erebus555
February 28th, 2008, 10:12 PM
It was, but only because I couldn't be arsed/get away with typing the real thing while I was supposed to be working doing well pretty much that ^^ actually :|

I can give you the hand typed version if you want though.

I'll give it a pass this time. I'm sure you have more interesting things to do! :yes: ;)

Biosonic
February 29th, 2008, 12:00 AM
It was, but only because I couldn't be arsed/get away with typing the real thing while I was supposed to be working doing well pretty much that ^^ actually :|

I can give you the hand typed version if you want though.

On a typewriter?

Can you lecture us on the drainage system and how Minworth is suitably located as it is at a lower level than much of the city?

Ta.

Telfordboy
February 29th, 2008, 12:06 AM
What the funk is Minworth?

Bachy Soletanche
February 29th, 2008, 12:09 AM
Where the flip is Minworth you mean.

Telfordboy
February 29th, 2008, 12:10 AM
Yeah, thats what I said :shifty:

Bachy Soletanche
February 29th, 2008, 12:12 AM
[nelson Muntz]Ah HA![/nelson Muntz]
Too late! It shows that you've edited it after I wite mi reply. init.

Telfordboy
February 29th, 2008, 12:17 AM
Pff, He says "Ha ha!" What kind of Simpsons fan are you.

Btw I don't know what you are talking about, all I did was replace the swear word f*ck with funk :shifty:

SimonTheSoundMan
March 1st, 2008, 01:28 PM
http://www.sub-urban.com/index.htm