Drains Introduction A subsurface drainage system will repay any time and effort involved in maintenance. Even though the system is well constructed and expected to last a lifetime, it will not do so unless it is carefully maintained.
Vigilance is important.
If a new subsurface drainage system is given careful maintenance for two or three years, it will require little effort thereafter, for within that time any weak spots in the drain line, and over sections in the backfill which have developed can be remedied. Given four things, an under drainage system should serve a lifetime. It is important to preserve good maps of a drainage system if proper maintenance is to be provided. The maps should show the location of all ditches and underdrains, their size and depth, and their grade and distance apart. As repairs or extensions are made, the maps should be revised.