Saturated Slopes

THE PROBLEM

A saturated slope is one where the formation is holding more water than the design intended. The result is reduced shear strength, elevated pore pressure, surface seepage, and — eventually — slope movement. Surface drainage handles a fraction of it. Real relief comes from drilling drains into the body of the slope.

JDC'S APPROACH

JDC's superior reputation was founded on expertise installing horizontal drains for landslide stabilization and prevention in a wide range of soils and rock with all types of accessibility challenges. Drains run up to 1,500 feet in depth at angles from 30 degrees below to 60 degrees above horizontal, producing satisfactory results across virtually all geologic formations we've drilled in.

On the verification side, our advanced solutions scope includes pore pressure devices and piezometers — installed in coordination with the drain layout so the design assumption can be checked against field performance. Conveyance systems route the captured water to existing tributaries.

We're available for consulting where the right drain layout is the difference between a working solution and a recurring problem.