Swales
Swales
Swales are shallow drainage channels in the ground where run-off can collect and soak away. You can also use them to carry water through a site.
You can channel run-off from roads, yards and car parks into swales where it pools before soaking away.
Swales are often used along-side roads where the road surface can drain directly to the swale. You can use them to treat lightly contaminated run-off from hard standing around farmyards and farm roads.
When you are constructing a swale, you can include check dams to slow the flow of water, allowing sediment to settle out. Instead of using pipes, you can use swales to carry water between sustainable drainage system (SUDS) features.
Swales can link SUDS that deal with run-off from individual sites and SUDS that manage the run-off from large areas.