336-431-5852
aceavant@aceavant.com
5358 Poole Rd, Archdale, NC 27263
336-431-5852
aceavant@aceavant.com
5358 Poole Rd, Archdale, NC 27263
Water diversion and ditch erosion control for commercial and industrial construction sites across North Carolina
Diversion ditches intercept clean upslope runoff before it crosses disturbed areas, reducing the sediment load the rest of the erosion control system has to handle.
Keeping clean water out of disturbed areas means less runoff carrying sediment to the basin, extending the time between cleanouts.
Properly lined and sloped ditches move water without scouring the channel or depositing sediment at the outlet.
We grade diversion ditches to the flow velocity and channel dimensions specified in the erosion control plan.
Riprap aprons and energy dissipators at ditch outlets prevent erosion where concentrated flow is discharged.
Diversion ditches are installed in sequence with site grading so clean runoff is diverted before disturbed areas are exposed.
We inspect and repair ditch lining and outlet protection after storm events to keep the system functioning.
Diversion ditches, sediment basins, silt fence, and stabilization handled by the same team.
A diversion ditch is a constructed channel that intercepts surface runoff and redirects it to a controlled outlet, away from areas where it would cause erosion or carry sediment off site. On construction sites, diversion ditches are used to route clean upslope runoff around disturbed areas, direct concentrated flow toward sediment basins and traps, and manage stormwater movement across a site that has been graded but not yet permanently stabilized. A well-placed diversion ditch reduces the volume of runoff crossing exposed soil, which directly reduces the sediment load the rest of the erosion control system has to manage.
Diversion ditches are one of the most effective erosion control tools on a construction site because they address runoff at the source rather than after it has already crossed disturbed soil and picked up sediment. Every gallon of clean water diverted around a disturbed area is a gallon that does not contribute to erosion on that slope and does not carry sediment toward the site boundary or a downstream waterway. On sites with significant upslope drainage areas, diversion ditches can reduce the size and cost of the sediment basin required to treat the remaining runoff, making them a cost-effective part of the overall erosion control system.
The type of diversion ditch used on a construction site depends on the volume of runoff being intercepted, the slope of the channel, and the soil and site conditions at the installation location.
Earthen diversion ditches are the most common type on construction sites. They are graded into the existing or proposed ground surface using excavation equipment and stabilized with seeding, matting, or riprap lining depending on the design flow velocity. On low to moderate slope channels with manageable flow velocities, seeded earthen ditches are sufficient. On steeper slopes where flow velocity would erode an unlined channel, riprap lining or other hard armoring is required.
Lined diversion ditches use riprap, concrete, or erosion control matting to protect the channel from scour at flow velocities that would erode an unlined earthen channel. Lining selection depends on the design flow velocity, the channel slope, and whether the ditch is a temporary construction measure or a permanent stormwater feature.
Interceptor ditches are installed at the top of disturbed slopes to capture runoff before it flows down the slope face and causes erosion. They are one of the most effective slope erosion control measures on construction sites with long slope runs, reducing the sheet flow that would otherwise accelerate down the slope and carry significant sediment volumes.
We review the erosion control plan and establish the ditch alignment, inlet, and outlet locations in the field before excavation begins. Alignment is confirmed against site drainage conditions to make sure the ditch will intercept and redirect flow as the design intends.
We excavate the ditch to the cross section dimensions and grade specified in the plan using graders and excavators sized to the channel length and access conditions. Grade control is maintained throughout excavation to hold the design slope and prevent flat spots that would cause sediment deposition in the channel.
Where the design calls for lining, we install riprap, erosion control matting, or other channel protection material to the specified depth and coverage before the ditch carries any flow. Unlined sections are seeded immediately after excavation where site conditions and timing allow.
We install riprap aprons or energy dissipators at the ditch outlet to dissipate flow energy and prevent scour where concentrated discharge leaves the channel. Outlet scour is one of the most common points of failure in diversion ditch systems and is addressed at installation rather than after damage occurs.
Where the ditch inlet intercepts sheet flow from a disturbed area, we install check dams or inlet protection to prevent concentrated flow from eroding the channel head and working upstream.
Managing water movement on an active construction site is one of the more complex parts of erosion control, because the site surface is constantly changing as grading progresses. Diversion ditches that made sense at the beginning of the project may need to be relocated or extended as grading moves through different site areas. We phase diversion ditch installation with the grading sequence, installing and adjusting water diversion features to match the current extent of disturbance rather than installing everything at the start and leaving it unchanged as site conditions change around it.
Some diversion ditches that start as temporary construction erosion control measures are incorporated into the permanent site drainage design after construction is complete. Permanent diversion ditches are graded, lined, and stabilized to function as long-term stormwater conveyance features, directing runoff from impervious surfaces and graded areas to detention or retention facilities. Where a temporary construction ditch will become a permanent drainage feature, we construct it to the permanent design standard from the start rather than building a temporary version that needs to be reconstructed at project completion.
Check dams are low barriers installed across a diversion ditch channel to reduce flow velocity, promote sediment settling, and prevent channel scour on steeper ditch sections. They are used in temporary diversion ditches on construction sites where channel slope produces flow velocities that would erode an unlined earthen channel. We install check dams as part of the ditch construction scope on channel sections where the design slope or soil conditions warrant them, and we clean accumulated sediment from check dam pools as part of our ongoing maintenance program.
Flat spots in the channel grade cause sediment to deposit in the ditch rather than flow to the outlet, eventually blocking the channel and causing overflow onto the disturbed areas the ditch is supposed to protect. Insufficient outlet protection allows scour to work back up the channel from the outlet, undermining the ditch lining and eventually causing a failure. Poorly placed inlets allow runoff to enter the ditch at a velocity that erodes the channel head. We address each of these details at installation and inspect for them during maintenance visits, catching developing problems before they become failures that affect the site’s permit compliance.
Diversion ditches accumulate sediment at check dams and flat spots, suffer lining displacement from storm events, and can be damaged by construction equipment crossing them during the project. We inspect ditch systems after significant storm events, remove accumulated sediment from check dam pools before it reduces their effectiveness, repair displaced lining, and restore channel grade where deposition has reduced flow capacity. Keeping diversion ditches functional through the full construction period is what makes them effective as a system rather than just at initial installation.
Diversion ditches need to be in place before the areas they protect are disturbed. We install interceptor ditches at the top of slopes and perimeter diversion features before grading begins in each area of the site, and we adjust and extend the ditch system as grading progresses into new site areas. Coordination with the grading schedule is what determines whether water diversion is in place when the soil is first exposed, or installed after the first runoff event has already caused erosion.
A diversion ditch is a constructed channel that intercepts surface runoff and redirects it away from disturbed areas or toward a controlled outlet such as a sediment basin, reducing erosion on exposed slopes and limiting the sediment load carried across the site.
By routing clean upslope runoff around disturbed areas, a diversion ditch reduces the volume of water crossing exposed soil. Less runoff crossing disturbed ground means less erosion and less sediment reaching the site boundary or downstream waterways.
A diversion ditch is a conveyance feature that redirects runoff. A sediment basin is a retention feature that captures runoff and allows sediment to settle before discharge. They work together as part of the same erosion control system, with diversion ditches directing flow toward the basin and reducing the runoff volume the basin has to treat.
Lining depends on the channel slope and design flow velocity. Low velocity channels on shallow slopes can often be stabilized with seeding and erosion control matting. Steeper channels with higher flow velocities require riprap or other hard lining to prevent channel scour.
Yes. Temporary construction diversion ditches are sometimes incorporated into the permanent site drainage design after construction is complete. Where that is the intent, we construct them to the permanent design standard from the start.
We inspect ditches after storm events, remove accumulated sediment from check dam pools, repair displaced lining, and restore channel grade where deposition has reduced flow capacity. Maintenance keeps the ditch functioning as a water diversion feature through the full construction period.