Passive Irrigation Systems

Utilising Road Runoff to Irrigate Street Trees and Greenery

Description

In partnership with the City of Monash’s engineering team, SVC has developed an effective solution for passive roadside irrigation. The Monash Grated Inlet is a fully-contained, easy-to-install precast kerb package that captures road-surface stormwater for reuse. As stormwater passes through the unit, debris and sediment is filtered out and the remaining runoff travels directly into an underground soil vault system. This supports healthy tree growth and significantly reduces the need for frequent, manual watering, unlocking efficiencies for council maintenance crews.

Features & Benefits

Labour savings from passive irrigation:
The system collects and redirects road-level stormwater directly to tree root zones, reducing reliance on frequent manual watering regimes.

Integrated filtration system:
A dual-stage steel silt basket captures litter, debris and fine sediment, helping prevent blockages and protecting downstream soil vault systems.

Low maintenance design:
Requires only a 3–6 month maintenance cycle, subject to site conditions, delivering significant time and labour savings for council maintenance crews.

Fully contained precast unit:
Supplied as a single, integrated system with pre-assembled internal components, simplifying installation and reducing on-site construction time.

Pedestrian-safe configuration:
Features a Class C pedestrian-safe grate, making it suitable for footpath, nature strip and roadside environments.

Kerb-integrated solution:
Designed to match a B2 kerb profile for installation directly within the kerb channel, providing a discreet, robust and functional streetscape outcome.

Overflow protection:
Installed upstream of a side entry pit to ensure excess stormwater is safely captured by the existing municipal drainage network during high rainfall events.

Sustainable and durable:
Manufactured using SVC Eco concrete containing recycled waste and reduced embodied carbon, supporting council sustainability targets while delivering long-term asset performance.

 

Material Specifications

Precast concrete components:
Manufactured using SVC Eco 40MPa fibre-reinforced concrete, incorporating low-carbon cement (12-30% SCMs) and recycled plastic waste.

Steel components:
Easily removable galvanised steel silt basket featuring 6mm mesh screen at the front plate for medium debris, and 1mm mesh to capture fine silt and sediment.

Two-part cast iron insert:
Comprises a Class C pedestrian-safe grate for stormwater entry, and a solid lift-out cover positioned over the silt basket for safe and easy maintenance access.

Outlet connection points:
Six knockouts in the catch pit allow flexible connection to outlet pipes feeding underground structural soil or soil vault systems.

Design life:
Engineered for a 50-year service life, suitable for long-term council infrastructure applications.

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Relevant Applications

Road Infrastructure

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Monash Grated Inlet work?

Stormwater runoff captured at the road surface flows into the kerb channel, moving downstream until it enters the MGI through an 8mm-aperture grated opening. Inside the unit, debris in the stormwater is filtered through a two-stage silt basket system (6mm and 1mm mesh). Filtered water then exits the MGI via an outlet pipe and is directed into a structural soil or soil vault system to irrigate tree roots.

What type of debris does the Monash Grated Inlet capture?

The MGI features a stainless steel silt basket which uses a dual-mesh filtration system to filter out particles:
• A 6mm screen captures medium-sized litter and debris
• A 1mm mesh basket captures fine silt and small particles
This helps to prevent outlet blockages while ensuring clean stormwater reaches the tree root zone.

What is the load rating on the Monash Grated Inlet?

The lift-out cast iron solid cover and grate within the MGI is rated Class C, accepting a nominal wheel load of 5000kg. It is suitable for use in the kerb channel on roads with slow-moving commercial traffic.

Where should the Monash Grated Inlet be installed?

The MGI is installed roadside, directly within a B2 kerb channel. It should always be installed upstream of a side entry pit, ensuring any excess stormwater during heavy rainfall events is safely captured by the municipal drainage system. The internal horizontal plate holding the silt basket is available in either a left or right option for basket placement, which is dependent on road incline and must be specified at the time of order placement. The lift-out cover and grate segments can be interchanged to suit orientation requirements.

How do you install the Monash Grated Inlet?

The Monash Grated Inlet is a no-fuss solution that is simple to install, as it is supplied to site as a fully contained precast unit with all internal components already pre-assembled. The cover component is supplied in a concrete encasement manufactured with a B2 barrier-type kerb profile, which is to be installed directly within the kerb channel. The catch pit component is installed directly beneath the encased cover, and should have an outlet pipe connected to the underground soil vault system.

What are the ongoing maintenance requirements for the Monash Grated Inlet?

The MGI is designed to be a low-maintenance solution driving efficiency for councils. Typical maintenance involves:
• Inspecting and clearing debris from the catch pit and lift-out silt basket
• A recommended maintenance cycle of every 3–6 months, depending on environmental conditions. For example, leafy streets may require more frequent maintenance.

How is the silt basket in the Monash Grated Inlet accessed?

The Monash Grated Inlet features a two-part solid and grated cover that can be unbolted and lifted out using a standard industry lifting key. Once the cover is removed, maintenance crews can easily access and pull out the internal steel silt basket by hand, allowing easy cleaning of the unit.

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