The solution introduced was a retention pond, a body of water designed to collect storm water runoff efficiently during the storm and release that excess water slowly within the next 24 hours or so. Today, it’s rare to find a new housing development without a retention pond or two.

There are basically 3 types of retention ponds:
1. Excavated ponds . These are constructed as you would expect; a back hoe or bulldozer digs a hole for the pond. This type of retention pond is limited to flat areas, and they’re usually located near a natural drainage way.

2. Embankment ponds. As the name suggests, an embankment is built across the drainage way. The advantage of this type is that it can be built on nearly every type of terrain.

3. Combination ponds. This type of pond combines the two type, and builders excavate a hole upstream from the new embankment.

As you can imagine, there’s more to pond construction than bulldozing an area. For instance, soil needs the right amount of clay if it’s going to retain water for your pond. So the soil needs to be analyzed. Factors like depth, location and water shed (the water expected to drain in to your pond) need to be looked at closely.

This task is one that we at Jimmy Lewis and Sons do well. Ponds of any shape and size – to combine functionality and beauty — can be custom designed and constructed for your property.

For over 40 years Jimmy Lewis and Sons has been helping contractors in the Triangle area with all of their excavating and septic system needs. Our expertise and dedication to customer satisfaction has earned us the reputation for quality and excellence. From large commercial projects to smaller residential jobs, your project will be in good hands – from the ground up.

Image credit benchilada

Storm sewer – Perhaps best known as the home of Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles, storm sewers collect rainwater through storm drains and drainage gates on city streets. Storm runoff goes directly to a nearby body of water.

Combined sewer – This type has a dual purpose piping system: one pipe carries waste and storm water. In heavy rains, the pipe may overfill and consequently waste reaches the overflow dam and eventually a local body of water. In the United States, combined sewers are not constructed today due to their detriment to the environment, but existing systems are still in use here and in many places throughout the world.

To lessen the environmental impact, some cities have added tunnels or retention ponds to hold what would otherwise become runoff to the local body of water. Excess water is retained separately until it can be treated after the storms are over.

Effluent sewer – These are also known as public sewer system or municipal sewage system. This system is found in metropolitan areas, and some date back a couple hundred years. Pipes carry human waste and waste water to a treatment facility where water is filtered and solid matter is removed. The filtered water is processed at various levels to eradicate unsafe microorganisms. Once the water’s level of harmful bacteria is returned to natural levels, the water is allowed back into the local system.

Septic tank – Home sewage system for homes not connected to a municipal system are the infamous septic tanks marked by a green patch of grass. About 25% of homes in North America rely on septic tanks which are smaller versions of on-site treatment plants. Anaerobic bacteria inside the tank decompose the waste there. Preventive maintenance is key and regularly cleaning out a tank allows it to last for decades, avoiding painfully expensive costs later.

River-basin sewerage – Initiated by law to conserve water, this type of system employs a disposal treatment facility that excludes sewage water and collects rainwater for later distribution.

So there you have it. If you are building a house, renting an apartment or living anywhere, you’re most likely dealing with one or more of the sewage systems above. Knowing a bit about them all will help you make decisions, troubleshoot problems, and decide on improvements that are right for your living situations.

Of course, at Jimmy Lewis and Sons, we can help you understand all about sewers and plumbing. As your grading contractors, we’re committed to making sure you have all the information you need, and the very best quality and service possible.

As we help you decide the depth, location, shape and the size of the pond, we take into consideration the watershed (the water that will drain into the pond), making sure the proper watershed/pond size ratio is adequate. We also analyze your soil, as soil must have sufficient amounts of clay to retain water for your pond. We build embankment, excavated, and combination ponds – whichever is best suited for your property and for the purpose of your pond.

We can create small residential dry wells or construct a large systems for your development or other large project. As we also construct curb and gutter and install water and sewer systems, we are able to provide you a one stop water and sewer management solution.

As a result, whether you have a large development, a manufacturing facility, or a residential construction, we can provide you with a water and sewer system that is well designed and efficiently installed. We have complete resources for municipal city water services. We can tap into existing water mains and sewage lines, create new lines, and add required safety features such as fire hydrants.

We also offer you curb and gutter service, which will save you money and produce a well integrated water and sewer or septic system.

Most construction projects require a retention pond. A retention pond is needed to retain water that will run off from the excavation and other work in progress. To accomplish this, we dig shallow, environmentally friendly retention pond that will effectively hold the water until the plant is completed.

We are often called on to build retention ponds such as the one pictured. We construct them so that they will be able handle a quick influx of water that will be slowly released to another water body or absorbed into the ground itself.

• Cut and fill on-site
• Import material (haul in dirt)
• Export material (haul out dirt)
• Prepare site for client’s desired elevation
• Fine Grade
• Finish Grade
• Sub-grade
• Fine grade parking lots to prepare for asphalt, curb and gutter

We use state of the art technology and equipment, including on-site GPS capabilities, resulting in precision, and savings in both time and money for you.