The large variety of draining geo-components is a fundamental tool when it comes to manage accordingly water in structures without a proper drainage system. Ground or vertical constructions in contact with other structures may potentially increase the pressure causing unwanted collapses, therefore the removal of water in adjacent constructions is remarkably important.
Sometimes the importance of an efficient drainage system behind containment structures is well known but rarely considered, the management of water from run-off, or from phreatic surfaces within the ground, is one of the most important aspects influencing the long-term performance of that structure. Here we are going to mention the importance of not only having a good system of vertical drainage and water in the soil, but also the importance of having a sustainable one, which our people in Maccaferri care a great deal about.
Sustainable urban systems of drainage are those participant elements in the cities that take care of redirecting water so it would cause the smallest amount of damage, usually caused by rain or nearby water sources. Like conventional drainage systems, their main functions is to diminish the risk of flooding, but they also have the mission of preventing the water to get contaminated, minimize costs of storm-water management and improving the urban landscape.
Many of the sustainable urban systems of drainage are Green Infrastructures that stand out for integrating vegetation as a control element, either directly using it or creating a structure that allows it to grow around it. This sort of constructions have several advantages, such as; improving the aesthetics of neighborhoods where implemented, or reducing the effect of ‘heat island’ within the cities, so it protects the environment, while protecting us from it.
The same way as in traditional drainage, sustainable one has to be designed under some hydrological criteria so it works properly, the specialty of sustainable urban systems of drainage is the selection and implementation of urban technical drainage, including hydrological and hydraulic calculations typical of a drainage network, plus the studies and integration with other important factors related with urbanism, landscaping, or ecology .Since these systems are integrated by a set of elements of different nature, they must combine perfectly in the environment where they are implemented and in this matter, Maccaferri is like an exterior designer.