CSLB C-27 Landscaping ContractorSite Preparation and DrainageMedium

A landscape contractor is designing a sports field with a subsurface drainage system. The design calls for the use of drain tile (perforated pipe) in a herringbone pattern. What is the primary advantage of using a herringbone pattern for sports field drainage?

  1. AIt allows for efficient collection of water from a broad area and directs it to a main collector.
  2. BIt is the most cost-effective pattern for large areas.
  3. CIt prevents root intrusion into the drain pipes.
  4. DIt requires less excavation compared to other patterns.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. It allows for efficient collection of water from a broad area and directs it to a main collector.

The herringbone pattern, characterized by lateral drain lines feeding into a central main collector line, is highly effective for sports fields because it maximizes the collection of subsurface water from a wide area and efficiently channels it to a single discharge point, ensuring rapid dewatering.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. Cost-effectiveness depends on many factors, and herringbone can be labor-intensive due to multiple connections.
  • C. The pattern itself does not prevent root intrusion; proper pipe material and installation practices are needed for that.
  • D. The herringbone pattern typically requires extensive excavation for both lateral and main lines, not less.

Herringbone Drainage Pattern

A subsurface drainage layout characterized by multiple lateral drain lines angled to feed into a central, larger main collector drain, resembling a fish skeleton.

  • Efficiently collects water from large areas.
  • Commonly used in sports fields and agricultural lands.
  • Directs water to a single main discharge point.

Memory trick: Herringbone's wide reach, water's quick beach.

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