Cinder Block Drainage ditch?

Question

Hello, I need to make a drainage ditch on my drive way so the rain water doesnt wash away all my gravel or flood the drive way.

The plan is to dig a trench in the middle of the drive way and put in a drainage pipe/tunnel that will connect with the neighbors and all the water can just flow on by.

Normally people would buy one of those big metal pipes and use that, but I have a bunch of old cinder blocks that I may not have any use for, what I would like to do, is lay them down horizontally on there side all in a row in the trench so that the water can flow through the two holes, then I would fill over the top of them with gravel and all will be well. ^_^

The real question for this explanation, is can the cinder blocks support the weight of a large truck, I might have things as big as cement trucks come rolling over this, can the blocks survive that kind of weight, if not, what can I do to try and make it possible.

Any Ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you. ^_^

Answer 1

The cinder blocks might hold up to traffic if the gravel is properly compacted so that any traffic load can be dispersed to the surrounding soil. However, I don't think the holes in the cinder blocks will have adequate flow area for any significant rain event. Additionally the holes in the cinder blocks will likely fill up with sediment and/or debris (leaves, sticks, etc...) and get clogged.



I suggest trying to sell the cinder blocks if you have no use for them, and buying the large corrugated metal pipe that you mentioned. If the pipe ever gets clogged, it will be much easier to clean out than the cinder blocks would.

Answer 2

the cinder blocks will not work. I have never heard of using a large metal pipe for drainage before.Why not use a 6 inch perforated plastic pipe designed for this kind of job? If the trench is in the middle of the drive heavy vehicles will straddle the pipe and cause no problems.Cover the pipe with gravel and the water will go away.( by gravel I mean river rock not crushed limestone)

Answer 3

If you get snow and ice where you are, the salt that u put on your driveway will disintegrate cement blocks. Also the frost coming out of the ground will heave them up and down in the spring. Not a good idea for all that work! Why not pour a cement swale (shallow ditch) down the side or centre of your drive way? The concrete companies can treat the cement so that salt will not hurt it.

Answer 4

Don't use cinder blocks, it won't work!