durability of steel as horizontal drain

[bbarrett33]

A new tool introduced by the USFS in a demo can insert hollow steel tubes as horizontal drains. Cost of these drains is about $200 each. Any idea how long a steel pipe survives or how to calculate this? bob barrett bbarrett33@aol.com

 

[Focht3]

I assume "USFS" stands for the "U.S. Forestry Service."

It depends on a lot of things: soil type, groundwater pH, the pore water chemistry in general, depth to groundwater, etc. At $200 apiece installed, they sound like a "temporary" fix. Particularly in an evergreen forest setting - I would expect that to be an acidic environment. The drains might not last more than 2 or 3 seasons before the perforations or slots clogged.

But corrosion isn't my forte' - any other comments, folks?

 

[bbarrett33]

It was suggested that a plastic pipe could be inserted in the steel tube that would maintain the drain for a longer period.

 

[Focht3]

Hmmm,

Perhaps. But you still have the possibility of corrosion product clogging the plastic pipe, too.