COUNTY OF HANOVER, VA.

DRAINAGE DESIGN HANDBOOK

DATE: October 25, 1988

Revised: Board of Supervisors

August 27, 2008

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

P.O. BOX 470

HANOVER, VIRGINIA 23069-0470

PHONE: (804) 365-6181

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 CONTENTS

A. Introduction

B. Construction Materials

C. Curb and Gutter Streets

D. Open Channels

E. Lot Grading

F. Ponds and Lakes

G. Flood Plains

H. Stormwater Management

I. Checklists

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A. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this handbook is to establish detailed design criteria for

implementing the requirements of the County of Hanover’s Floodplain and Drainage
Control Ordinance, Chapter 12 of the county code. The ordinance contains certain
definitions, specific drainage requirements, and general goals, and is included as a part of
this handbook in Appendix A.

This handbook has been prepared with the assistance of a citizen advisory
committee composed of the following representatives from various organizations
concerned with land development in Hanover County.

Mr. Joseph P. Brooks – Home Builders Association of Richmond

Mr. Calvin L. Stanley – Hanover Association of Businesses

Mr. Michael Fiore – Virginia Society of Professional Engineers

Mr. G. L. Howard – Richmond Area Municipal Contractors Association

Mr. William F. Goodfellow – Virginia Association of Surveyors

Mr. R. M. Cleek, Jr. – Virginia Department of Transportation

Mr. C. E. Davis – Hanover Board of Supervisors

Mr. Allan T. Williams – County Administrator

Mr. Richard F. Wood, P.E. – County Engineer

The help of the above committee members has been essential to the preparation of this
handbook and their assistance is greatly appreciated.

The handbook is arranged under subject titles to address the instances where the
Hanover County drainage requirements are different or more restrictive than those of the
“Drainage Design Manual” prepared by the Virginia Department of Transportation and
the “Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook” prepared by the Virginia Soil
and Water Conservation Commission. In all cases where this handbook is silent on a
particular issue, the applicable design criteria shall be those of the Virginia Department of
Transportation or the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

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 As State and/or Federal criteria and laws change, and as new and better design
methods become available, it is likely that revisions or additions to this handbook will be
issued.

Users of this handbook should note that it carries the same legal weight as the law
upon which it is based. Unless specifically noted, requirements of this handbook cannot
be waived.

B. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Construction materials for all drainage projects must conform to the Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT) Road and Bridge Standards, VDOT Road and
Bridge Specifications, and VDOT Instructional and Informational Memorandum, current
editions, with the following exceptions:

1. Bituminous concrete shall not be allowed as a channel lining or for curbs.

2. Rip-Rap shall not be allowed for channel lining on slopes over 15% or for channel
lining within two hundred feet of proposed or existing residences. For proposed
lots the two hundred foot distance will be measured from the required front yard
set-back line.

3. Downsizing of drainage pipe is not permitted as a storm sewer progresses

downstream unless multiple pipes, with an equivalent size at last equal to the
upstream pipe, are to be installed.

4. Pipe and culvert materials and associated structures shall be of concrete and/or
reinforced concrete construction (poured in place or precast) except as noted
below:

• Corrugated metal pipe is approved for use for culverts at single family
residential driveway entrances, and for temporary installations.
• High density polyethylene pipe is approved for use as culverts at single family
residential driveway entrances, for temporary installations, and for privately
maintained storm drainage systems for commercial and industrial
developments located outside of public rights-of-way and public easements.
• Solid walled plastic pipe is approved for use for temporary installations, and
for privately maintained storm drainage systems for commercial and industrial
developments outside of public rights-of-way and public easements.
• The use of high density polyethylene pipe for drainage pipe shall not be
permitted in any residential development, including single family, townhouse,
condominium and apartment developments except for piping installed by the
owner of one individual residential lot and serving only that one lot.

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 Except as noted above, all drainage pipe and associated structures to be
constructed in County drainage easements or public rights-of-way shall be in accordance
with the latest VDOT Road and Bridge Standards, VDOT Road and Bridge
Specifications, and VDOT Instructional & Informational Memorandum. All other
drainage pipe and associated structures shall be in accordance with the latest VDOT Road
and Bridge Standards, VDOT Road and Bridge Specifications, and VDOT Instructional
& Informational Memorandum, or manufacturer’s recommendations.

Exceptions for alternative pipe materials may be granted by the Director for
special maintenance installations, unusual circumstances where the use of alternative
materials is necessary for structural or environmental reasons, and for purposes of yard
drainage utilizing pipe diameters less than 15 inches.

C. CURB AND GUTTER ROADWAY REQUIREMENTS

(Residential, Commercial)

Road side channel type streets are encouraged because they result in less paved
areas and slower run-off velocities. These have less effect on downstream areas through
curb and gutter streets.

In developments where the longitudinal slope of road side channels will be

relatively flat (1% or less) or, where driveway culverts will be close together (80-foot
wide lots or less), experience has shown that it becomes difficult to construct and
maintain grassed channels. The use of curb and gutter type streets shall therefore be
required whenever one or more of the following conditions exists:

1. The longitudinal slope of the road side channel (not including short lengths at
vertical curves or tangent sections less than 200’ in length) is less than 1.0% and,
the average lot front width measured at the required set back line is less than 125
feet,

2. The average lot front width measured at the required set-back line, as defined by
the Hanover County Subdivision Ordinance, is equal to or less than 80 feet,

3. The project is zoned R-4, R-5, or R-6. In this case, curb and gutter will be
required on all parking lots and on connecting roadways less than 300 feet long.
(Road side channels may be used on longer connecting or entrance roadways if
the channel slope is 1.0% or greater).

Notes:

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a. All curb and gutter shall be constructed in accordance with VDOT standards
for design and construction.
b. Whenever curb and gutter is required it shall be installed on both sides of the
street and shall be complete between street intersections. When a
development is proposed on one side of an existing, publicly maintained road,
and curb and gutter is required, it will be required on both sides of the publicly
maintained road.
c. When intersecting a street that does not have or will not have curb and gutter,
the design shall be in accord with figure C-1.
d. Grate inlets located in vertical curve sags or at intersections shall lie on
continuous grades and shall intercept all of the gutter flow passing over.

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D. OPEN CHANNELS

Where open channels are used in residential areas, the channels shall be
constructed in a manner to permit maintenance by the residents with normal yard care.
This requires flat side slopes, rounded at the top, and a longitudinal slope sufficient to
allow all stormwater to drain out following a storm.

Natural receiving channels within, along, and downstream from the boundary of
residential and commercial projects shall be protected from erosion for the 2-year storm
event and shall contain the 10-year storm event. Design calculations shall be submitted
that clearly indicate erosion will not occur. All calculations shall anticipate development
of the upstream watershed as indicated by the County Comprehensive Plan.

Open channels shall be designed and constructed to preclude erosion during the 2-
year storm and to contain the 10-year storm. All erosion and capacity calculations shall
be in accordance with the VDOT Design Manual, except for Chapter 11, paragraph 2.2
A-F. This section of the VDOT Manual and GC-7 of the “Virginia Erosion and Sediment
Control Handbook” allow the use of detention basins to control erosion at the developers
option. Section H (Stormwater Management) of this handbook, contains requirements
which specify the conditions under which detention basins may be allowed in Hanover
County. Designers should note that Paragraph 2.7.3,D. of the VDOT Drainage Manual
requires initial flow velocity calculations assume channel linings are bare earth. The
Manning’s “n” Factor in this situation must therefore not exceed the appropriate value for
the soil type. Manning’s “n” is then corrected for the lining chosen when the capacity
calculation is made for the 10-year storm. The Manning roughness coefficients tabulated
in the VDOT drainage manual are appropriate for use here. The minimum depth to width
ratio allowed for the 2-year storm erosion calculations is d/w=0.20 where d=depth of
flow and w=top width of the water surface.

The minimum criteria for open channel designs shall be as follows:

1. Minimum longitudinal slope for grassed linings = 1.0%.

2. Maximum longitudinal slope for grassed linings shall be calculated to preclude

erosion during a 2-year storm event.

3. Maximum side slopes for grassed channels to facilitate maintenance = 3H:1V.

4. Maximum side slopes for concrete paved ditches less than or equal to 2 feet in
depth shall not exceed 2H:1V. Where concrete paved ditches exceed 2 feet in
depth, maximum side slopes in that part of the ditch greater than 2 feet above the
ditch invert must not exceed 3H:1V.

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5. Rip-Rap Lined Channels shall meet the following criteria:

a. Maximum side slopes of 2:1.

b. Rip-Rap thickness of 18-inches.

c. Minimum depth 18-inches.

d. Rip-Rap shall be placed over a layer of filter fabric or bedding material.

Selection of an appropriate material is based upon an analysis of the
natural stream bed. Jute Mesh or other non-permanent material will not be
acceptable for this use.

E. LOT GRADING

Lot grading for all projects shall be designed and executed to limit damage due to
flooding. Measures to allow for rapid and efficient dissipation of stormwater to detention
facilities and to natural watercourses shall be provided on all plans for construction in
Hanover County. All walls, building foundations, and water supply wells shall be
provided with protective slopes to divert surface water.

In all single and multi-family projects, topographic plans shall provide for
positive drainage of all lands within the boundaries of the project to a natural watercourse
over public easements. Road, drainage, and site plans shall indicate all lawns, yards,
wooded areas, fields, common areas, buffers, natural areas and paved parking areas shall
drain. Minimum grades at buildings and at openings into basements and crawlspaces
shall be at elevations which prevent adverse effect by stormwater from flood levels
equivalent to a 50-year return frequency after full development. Plans shall show slabs
on grade and crawlspace grades equal to or higher than exterior lawns. The floor
elevations of all habitable space shall be above run-off and flood levels equivalent to a
100-year return frequency after full development. Crawl spaces shall not be subject to
ponding water or to prolonged dampness. All open channels, paved or grassed, shall be
designed in accordance with the appropriate minimum criteria established in this manual.
Should an on-site inspection reveal pockets of standing water, improvements or regrading
to provide adequate drainage shall be required.

For lots that require filling to meet floodplain requirements, the existing and
proposed contours and an assumed building footprint shall be shown on the road and
drainage plans. A statement giving the minimum finished floor elevation shall
accompany the grading plan.

Residential lots exhibiting topography suggestive of yard drainage problems or

which may cause flooding of adjacent properties shall be identified by the county
engineer during the construction plan review process. Lot grading plans shall be required
in order to obtain building permits for construction on these lots. Final inspection and

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acceptance by the county engineer shall be required to obtain a certificate of occupancy
for the finished structure.

Commercial or industrial property shall require an approved overall stormwater

management plan with dedicated drainage easements which shall be developed in
accordance with Section H of this manual prior to recordation. Individual lot grading
plans consistent with the approved overall plan shall be submitted and approved prior to
site plan approval. Individual lot grading plans for commercial and industrial property
shall be evaluated with respect to their impact on adjacent properties in accordance with
Section H.

All lot grading plans shall comply with the following minimum criteria: lot
grading plans:

1. Provide minimum fall of 6 inches away from structure in 10 feet, except as

restricted by side lot lines or other major considerations, without regard to
soil type or ground frost conditions. The horizontal length of such slopes
may be reduced as necessary at building corners and side yards; the 6-inch
fall may not be reduced.

2. Provide at least 6 inches in 25 feet (2% gradient) in all other unpaved

areas subject to ground frost, expansive soils or collapsible soils, or at
least 3 inches in 25 feet (1% gradient) in unpaved areas not subject to such
conditions.

a. All unpaved areas shall slope continuously at the above gradient to

lower elevations off the lot, or to a drainage structure on the lot.

b. Drainage swales or valleys formed by intersecting slopes shall

have adequate depth, width, and longitudinal gradient to carry
away the maximum predictable volume of storm water run-off as
described in Section D. Gradient requirements of unpaved swales
shall not be less those of other unpaved areas.

F. PONDS AND LAKES

1. Proposed Permanent Dams

All dams modified or constructed in Hanover County or impacted by

development within the County shall conform to the requirements of the Virginia Dam
Safety Regulations published by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Historic
Resources’ Division of Soil and Water Conservation. When a permanent dam is
proposed within any subdivision or site development, or when an existing dam is affected
by development, the County regulates the design, construction, and maintenance of the
dam for safety purposes and to prevent wash-outs that may cause downstream siltation or

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flooding. Any such dams shall be designed or inspected by a registered professional
engineer and shall meet the following criteria:

a. The dam shall be structurally able to withstand the intended depth of the
impoundment.

b. The dam shall pass the 100-year storm without structural failure or
overtopping.

c. The impoundment shall be coordinated with the watershed master

drainage plan, or routing computations shall indicate inflow and outflow
hydrographs of the watershed for the 2, 10, and 100-year storms are not
significantly altered by construction of the impoundment.

d. A maintenance agreement satisfactory to the County Engineer that

requires the dam and lake to be maintained as designed shall be
established by the developer to provide for maintenance of the dam and
lake.

e. Following completion, the professional design engineer shall prepare a

written document stating the dam has been constructed in accordance with
project plans and specifications.

2. All existing dams shall be investigated by registered professional engineers in

accordance with the above criteria.

3. Hanover County approved construction, Drainage and Erosion and Sediment

control plans shall be required for all impoundments to be drained.

G. FLOODPLAINS

For the purpose of this handbook the criteria concerning floodplains in Hanover
County fall into two classifications:

1. Federally Designated Floodplains

Determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under H.U.D.,

copies of the maps depicting these floodplains are furnished by the Federal
Government and will be distributed free of charge by the Public Works
Department as long as copies are available. A copy of the Hanover County
Floodplain Ordinance, Chapter 81-16, is included in this handbook as Appendix B
and governs all development adjacent to the watercourses mapped.

2. Floodplains along watercourses which were not mapped by the Federal

Floodplain Study

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These floodplains shall be determined by the developer for all projects adjacent to
a watercourse unless, in the opinion of the County Engineer, the development is
so high above the watercourse that all of the construction proposed is out of the
floodplain. The authority for this requirement is Chapter 12, Section 7 of the
Hanover County Floodplain and Drainage Control Ordinance.

The methods of computation and the rules governing the development within
floodplains are stated herein and are not necessarily the same as those for
Federally designated floodplains.

a. For watercourses with drainage areas in excess of 640 acres (one square mile).
The floodplain shall be determined using methods developed by the Army
Corps of Engineers utilizing their HEC-1 and HEC-2 computer programming.
Stream cross sections within the floodplain shall be measured in the field. If
requested by the developer, the County shall in turn request that these studies
be done by the Army Corps of Engineers. If the developer does not wish to
wait until the Corps can complete it’s studies, he may elect to have the work
done by an appropriate registered professional who can demonstrate that he is
experienced with this method of computation. In either case, it shall be the
responsibility of the developer to provide all survey and engineering services
in connection with the preparation of these computations.

b. For watercourses with drainage areas less than 640 acres but greater than 100
acres. The computations must be completed by an appropriate registered
professional. The computations must be based on field surveyed stream cross
sections or on cross sections taken from topographic maps with contour
intervals of 2’ or less. Such maps may be prepared using aerial photographic
methods but may not be office interpolations of topographic maps with larger
contour intervals. The hydraulic and hydrologic methods used for computing
floodplains need not be those of the Army Corp of Engineers. The hydrology
should be done using the most appropriate method for the watershed.
Approximate methods include any of the methods described in the Virginia
Department of Transportation Manual, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, or
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Any method used must assume the
contributing watershed will be developed in accordance with the Hanover
County Comprehensive Plan.

c. For watercourses with drainage areas of less than one hundred acres. These
floodplains shall be computed. The head water (back up from the drainage
structures) for the 100-year storm shall be determined. Also, a determination
of the flood level that will occur if debris that normally washes downstream
during large storms blocks culverts. A secondary relief system which, when
fully developed, will not cause flooding shall be incorporated in the design.
Computations and survey data shall be submitted to demonstrate that: 1) the
100-year flood level for the developed watershed will not increase on adjacent

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properties up stream of the proposed fill, and 2) proposed structures will be
above the 100-year flood.

In cases as shown in Figure G-1 where a permanent structure is proposed

upstream of a proposed road fill, the structure shall have a finished floor
elevation 1’ or more above the low point of the road. The existing upstream
watershed shall be examined to evaluate the possibility of debris blocking
culverts. The designer must assume some blockage, or raise the proposed
structure above the fill low point. The exact elevation is to be determined
from calculations of the 100-year flow through the culvert and the water flow
over the road. Any fills or grading necessary to accomplish this shall be
shown on the road and drainage plans.

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H. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Stormwater Management refers to the attempt to mitigate detrimental effects on

downstream areas that may occur following upstream development. The most
noticeable detrimental effects are:

1. More frequent flooding

2. Erosion of stream banks
3. Sediment and debris build-ups
4. Water pollution problems from nutrients, metals, pesticides, etc.
5. A drop in groundwater levels

Based on current knowledge of the extent to which these problems affect

Hanover, the technology available to solve those problems and the existing state
and federal regulations, this handbook will address items 1 and 2 only.

Item 3 is a two-stage problem in which the first stage (erosion and resulting
sedimentation that occurs while developments are under construction) is
addressed by County and State Erosion and Sediment Control regulations. The
second stage of item 3 (grit and debris from urban areas) and items 4 and 5 are
long term problems. Although not specifically addressed by the management
solutions required for flooding and stream erosion, they will be mitigated to some
extent by these solutions.

Items 4 and 5 have their greatest effect on the larger watercourses and aquifers
that are also impacted by other localities (i.e. the Chickahominy River) and need
to be addressed by regional or state laws. Efforts to develop regional and local
management methods to control stormwater pollution and groundwater recharge
problems is continuing and measures will be adopted as they became practical. In
the meantime, specific local problems that can be foreseen will be addressed on a
individual basis during the zoning and site plan processes.

All development, which will result in a runoff coefficient (“c” in the rational
method of determining peak discharge) greater than 0.30 shall be subject to the
following stormwater management requirements:

1. All such projects shall discharge runoff to watercourses that will

not flood downstream existing residences or commercial buildings
after ultimate development of the watershed during the 100-year
storm and will not develop erosive flow velocities after
development of the 2-year storm. Any existing buildings within
floodplains established by FEMA will not be included in the
above. A downstream watercourse may be considered adequate at

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 any point where the total contributing drainage given is at least 100
times greater than the drainage area of the development site.

2. Any buildings subject to flooding with no development in the

watershed will not be included in the above.

3. Any buildings constructed without site plan approval by the

County will not be included in the above.

The County will proceed, as funds allow, to develop watershed master plans and
computer models to identify stormwater management projects for each watershed.
Some of the projects will likely be channel or culvert improvements or detention/
retention basins. All such projects will have preliminary plans and cost estimates.
When the Board of Supervisors adopts any such project as a County Project, all
entities which develop land in a watershed shall be required to pay their prorated
cost share as explained in Section 12-10 of the County Code.

Developers who wish to proceed with a project discharging to a watercourse that

does not meet these requirements and does not have an adopted master plan must
provide the master plan and have it adopted or incorporate the following interim
solution.

Interim Solution: If the master drainage plan for the drainage basin has not been
adopted by the Board of Supervisors, interim facilities must not increase the peak
rate of runoff from the project area for the 100-Year and 2-Year storms and must
not create erosive channel flow velocities. Easements for any such facilities shall
be dedicated to the County.

The use of stormwater detention or retention basins shall be limited to watersheds

where master drainage plans or computer models have been prepared that will
allow the Director of Public Works to assess the regional impact of any such
basin.

Any stormwater detention basins must be designed by an appropriate registered

professional. Detention and retention basins must pass the 100-Year storm
without structural failure.

Open basins within residential areas must have side slopes that do not exceed 3
horizontal to 1 vertical, must not be deeper than 4 feet during the 2-year storm,
and must have a minimum grade to the basin outlet of 2%, if grassed or, 0.25% if
paved. Basin outlet works shall not be accessible to persons. Basins in
subdivisions shall not flood any part of residential lots during the 2-Year storm.
100-Year floodplains shall be shown on final plats. Retention basins (detention
provided in ponds or lakes) shall meet these requirements whether intended as
stormwater management structures or not.

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 A maintenance plan and agreement satisfactory to the County engineer requiring
the detention and retention facilities to be maintained as designed shall be
submitted and recorded with construction plans.

The Department of Public Works will maintain maps indicating which watersheds
require stormwater management (based upon current editions of the
Comprehensive Plan). Meetings with developers, their design professionals and
the County are encouraged as early in the project as possible to discuss the status
of the County’s planning, possible complications, and other factors.

I. CHECKLISTS

The checklist in Appendix C indicates the minimum information required on

construction plans for review by the Public Works Department. Other
information may be required by other departments or agencies.

One copy of the checklist must be enclosed with all construction plans submitted
for review to the Public Works Department. If an item on the checklist does not
apply to the project the “NA” column should be checked.

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