Grate for Drainage Pipe Inlet?

[pmsmechanic]

I would try to set the grate up so that it is to an extent self cleaning. To do that the local irrigation district here would build about a 3' x 5' set of bars. The bars would be made of at least 2+" heavy wall pipes welded about 3" apart. They would be welded to a cross pipe top and bottom only. Then the grate would be set up at a fairly steep angle against the culvert. As the trash builds up against the grate it gets pushed towards the top of the grate by the flowing water.

You need to pass by once in a while and pull the trash off but that's not hard to do if you only have cross members top and bottom. It's essential to have a large enough grate that if part of it does get plugged it doesn't slow the water down a whole lot. It's also important to only have a cross member top and bottom so that the trash has nowhere to hang up and for easier cleaning. Just remember when building the grate that you don't need to screen out anything that is small enough to go through the culvert.

 

[coffeeman]

My property and a neighbors has a series of swales/ditches that lead to a pooling area before entering 100ft or so 15" clay pipe. This has been clogged up since I moved in 5 years ago and I finally dug it out today. I found a section of cinder block had made its way in and allowed it to clog up (much of the drainage area runs through woods so there is a heavy load of leaf and stick debris passing with the water).

I'm thinking about how to prevent this from happening again and am batting around a few options - I wanted to see if anyone here has any ideas:

1. Leave it open, minimizing the chance of nuisance clogs at the inlet, but need to inspect regularly for anything large.
2. Add a inlet beehive style grate - I'm thinking this will clog up with leaves right away.
3. Add a very course grate, maybe just two lengths of rebar hammered in, just to block anything large enough that will clog.

At this point I'm leaning towards option 3. Any other ideas/suggestions?

Thanks,
Matt

I am thinking of putting block walls up stream. Laying blocks on side with hollow centers allowing water to flow through. Heavy rain will clog the blocks fast. Thinking leaves branches will get caught up stream two places, maybe 3 or 4 blocks high. Will try and place walls at spot easy to clean out. Once clogged they can flow around or over. Thinking a fence near entrance of culvert. Already have iron fence near culvert. The big problem this year was massive amounts of gravel rocks mud silt etc. What a year we had here for rain! Worst in my area ever. 2 other records for rain till 4th highest since 1895, I think. Ain't gonna look it up again. We had a lot.

Have a nice evening.......Coffeeman

 

[jmc]

I am thinking of putting block walls up stream. Laying blocks on side with hollow centers allowing water to flow through. Heavy rain will clog the blocks fast. Thinking leaves branches will get caught up stream two places, maybe 3 or 4 blocks high. Will try and place walls at spot easy to clean out. Once clogged they can flow around or over. Thinking a fence near entrance of culvert. Already have iron fence near culvert. The big problem this year was massive amounts of gravel rocks mud silt etc. What a year we had here for rain! Worst in my area ever. 2 other records for rain till 4th highest since 1895, I think. Ain't gonna look it up again. We had a lot.

Have a nice evening.......Coffeeman

Great idea! Cheap too.