Zero-maintenance rural surface water management with 20-year performance guarantee
Grip drains are shallow channels cut across roadside verges to redirect surface water into adjacent ditches. They are a key component of rural drainage, typically spaced every 10–30 metres along the verge of rural roads.
With approximately 313,500 miles of rural roads in the UK, and assuming an average of 1,000 grips per mile, there are potentially over 300 million individual grip drains across the national network. Local authorities are responsible for maintaining their regional networks.
A rural council with 100 miles (160 km) of classified roads may manage over 50,000 grip drains. Maintenance regimes vary, but in many cases, annual / biannual cleaning or inspection of rural grips and re-cutting or re-forming (i.e., re-trenching) typically occurs every 5–10 years, depending on silt buildup and erosion.
This is to restore function and prevent localised flooding and represents a significant ongoing cost and labour burden, often absorbing seasonal budgets.
Engineered for zero intervention over 20+ years, eliminating annual cleaning and re-trenching cycles that absorb seasonal budgets.
ASTM D5101 tested under heavy sediment loads with china clay and silty sand, maintaining consistent permeability.
80% cost reduction compared to traditional grip maintenance cycles, providing significant budget relief for local authorities.
Independent testing confirms self-cleansing flow paths that maintain functionality without manual intervention.
| Cost Component | Traditional | RDS 100mm |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Cleaning | £500/year | £0 |
| Re-trenching (5yr cycle) | £200/year | £0 |
| Material Cost (20yr amortised) | - | £140/year |
| Total Annual Average | £700 | £140 |
*Per 1km rural road network (50 traditional grips vs RDS system)
Water continued to pass through despite visible particle migration, confirming self-cleansing capabilities.
Maintained consistent permeability under heavy silt loads, validating zero-maintenance design.
Independent laboratory testing confirms 20+ year performance guarantee under real-world conditions.
Current maintenance frequencies across UK local authorities:
Deep re-cutting typically required every 5-10 years, placing significant strain on rural highways budgets.
Contact our technical team for site assessment and implementation planning