Hydrotrench® is manufactured in the UK from end-of-life rubber tyres, supporting environmental sustainability. The modular design, reduced trench size and high permeability of the system delivers a long-lasting solution for paved areas and pathways.

How it works

  • Working back from outfall, a narrow trench network is excavated in the land and / or at edge lines to enable efficient installation of the system.  

  • To complete installation, the trench is backfilled with native soil and / or finished with a free-flowing material / surface.

  • Water immediately enters down and into the void space of low-pressure created by the system, which is entirely porous on all sides (unlike a perforated pipe or channel drain).

  • These unique properties invoke more responsive and persistent drainage flows, significantly increasing value engineering and design options for effective water management.

Features and benefits

Hydrotrench® has been designed for planners, architects, civil engineers, groundworkers, housebuilders, public sector, and environmental / water management specialists to provide:

  • Long-lasting integrated drainage solutions

  • Reduced excavation, spoil management and carbon footprint benefits

  • Increased drainage connectivity, attenuation and climate change resilience options

  • Improved planning and construction approvals

  • Optimised land use, nature-based solutions, ecology preservation and Biodiversity Net Gains

Design

Civil Water Management is advancing sustainable drainage system engineering with predictive stormwater and flood management models to defend against rainfall and flooding events.

The Hydrotrench® sustainable drainage system is supported by comprehensive technical specification documents, which include independently-verified hydraulic performance data and pipe size equivalents, which utilise the latest modelling software packages.

Build

  • All-in-one path edge, surface forming / frame and sustainable drainage construction details.

  • Scale-up drainage designs to address any size of catchment using the large range of recycled tyre rubber drainage panels, troughs and slab unit options available.

  • Connections available in a range of sizes for silt traps, chambers and catch pits.

  • Fully compatible with geotextile materials, geocomposites, impermeable membranes, and other water / soil / erosion control materials - use standard practices.

Technical

  • Porosity / void ratio: 45% (average)

  • Water permeability: 49 l/m2/s

  • Predicted design life: 60+ years
    Sufficiently durable in standard conditions and backfill when designed and installed as drainage parts

  • Resistance to chemicals: petrol, diesel, de-icer, salt – pass
    No visual surface change or deterioration was observed

  • Toxicology and environmental: heavy metals, PAH, environmental safety – pass

Accreditations

  • Constructionline

  • International standard ISO 9001

  • ASTM C642: porosity/void ratio

  • ASTM D4065: water temperature resistance

  • BS EN ISO 604: compressive strength

  • BS EN ISO 11058: water permeability

  • BS EN ISO 12958: in-plane water flow

  • DEF STAN 00-035 Part 3: chemical resistance

  • NF P90-112: toxicology