Slit Drainage is a method of removing unwanted 
water from any grassed surface. The technique is 
designed to be installed quickly with a minimum 
impact on the grass and a short recovery time. 
An area deemed to be badly affected may be slit 
drained without disruption to scheduled events. 
It has being proven that the narrow slit trenches
are successful in removing the volume of moisture 
generally encountered.

Specialised machinery capable of digging slits 
50mm,70mm and 125mm wide are used. An 
agriculture pipe is installed on a PVC membrane 
laid at the base of the trench that is laser 
graded for accuracy. The excavated soil is 
removed via a conveyer into a trailer drawn 
alongside. 

The trenches are back-filled first with a river 
sand and then coarse sand.The agriculture 
pipes are then connected to a stormwater main 
using special snap connectors. The slit trenches 
are installed parallel, usually one to three 
metres apart. Sports turf drainage must be 
intensive to be effective. It is far better to 
install a series of narrow trenches than one or 
two broad ones.

The water that does not go through a slow draining profile will find 
its way into the slit, and short circuit the system.
These concepts are intended to remove excess moisture without
it having to pass through the soil. This is only practical if the trenches
are neat, narrow and efficently installed.

Each venue has individual problems and needs to be considered 
separately. These are not proposals for major reconstruction.
They are methods of improving the existing surface with a minimum
of disruption.