Ditch

A ditch is visually “a long narrow hole that is dug along a road, field, etc., and used to hold or move water” [1]. Ditches are used for drainage, and they drain water from floods and runoff. In terms of location, they often run alongside roadways, and are made up mostly of natural materials. Design of ditches is often an overlooked aspect of them, but there is a lot to consider.

One of the considerations that has to be addressed is “Ditches need to get wider as they become deeper; this becomes a problem when there is a narrow right of way and can force the ditch to be filled” [2]. It is important when designing a ditch to make sure that the area of flow is not a small area, to compensate for an increased flow through the ditch.

The benefits of ditches are especially felt by people who live in largely farmland areas. When agricultural fields get oversaturated, ditches serve as a drainage system for excess water. This benefits farmers when there is a flood, helping them minimize crop loss.

References

[1] Merriam Webster. (2021, July 28). Ditch. Retrieved (2021, July 17), from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ditch

[2] Auburn Citizen. (2018, September 29). Eco Talk: How Roadside Ditches Work. Retrieved (2021, July 17), from https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/eco-talk-how-roadside-ditches-work/article_4c48abca-23ef-584c-82a4-6a524e1d241e.html