The Effect of Drainage Channel Type on Seepage Percentage

A paradigm shift in drainage system knowledge has occurred thanks to scientific progress and the lessons of experience. The availability of groundwater in an area must be preserved, so that groundwater resources are sufficient for its residents (sustainable drainage system). For groundwater conservation, empirical research needs to be done in a laboratory on the effect of the porosity of drainage channels. The purpose of this study was to determine the type of hole which gives the biggest percentage of seepage among four different types of channel bottom. This laboratory research was aimed at observing the amount of seepage from different types of bottom material, i.e. a ground channels with a few and with many seepage holes, and ground channels with PVC pipes and many seepage holes. The research was conducted on a channel with a length of 11 m, a width of 40 cm, a 0.0055 slope, and a permeability coefficient (K) of 4.4261 × 10-4 m/s. Total discharge was measured by a broadcrest weir. Seepage percentage was calculated from the inflow and outflow of drainage channel discharge. It was found that 19.56% was the largest percentage of seepage which occurred in the 11 m length of ground channel with many seepage holes without PVC pipes. Drainage channel design needs to consider the depth of shallow groundwater, soil type, soil permeability coefficient, slope, and the location of the drainage channel.