“Installing agi- pipe drainage systems, including silt pits, to keep water away from footings, walls etc., may be worse than simply properly waterproofing your external wall. Silt pits even when installed properly can cease to function if the agi pipe draining water away from your wall can become blocked externally to the agi pipe preventing any water entering it.”

Any drainage system should have silt pits at regular intervals.

This includes both stormwater systems and agricultural drains.

In the case of the above photo this is a combination drain and grate  silt pit. (As the water  can become stagnant this is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes!)

The pit may be either circular or square, with a base below the level of the inlet and outlet pipes. This means any sand or silt that gets into the drainage system will get washed into the silt pit where it falls to the bottom and can be easily removed.

Collecting the silt in the pit stops it being washed further along the system eventually causing a blockage,

The following diagram illustrates how the silt pit works.

Part of your ongoing property maintenance, after you move in, should to check the silt pits every year. If the silt gets up to the outlet pipe the pit will need to be cleaned.

Note: Ag pipe silt pits drainage and ongoing cleaning has the potential to cause erosion & loss of soil from walls & footings so it is best to use a system that fully waterproofs your wall onto footings using

Drizoro Maxseal Flex– 2 component waterproofing -White/Grey
Drizoro Maxseal Flex – M just add water
Drizoro Maxseal Foundation– Grey
Drizoro Maxseal Foundation Super White / Grey
Drizoro Maxseal White n Grey
Drizoro Maxjoint Elastic Expansion Joint
Drizoro Maxseal SUPER

– OnlineWaterproofingtShop Team

Source: Silt Pits – A New House

Author: Brian Ashworth September 15, 2014