Water & Sanitation › Water Supply
Field Drainage (Tile / Surface)
Emerging — help us find more providers · 0 providers
Surface ditching or subsurface tile drainage to remove excess water from cropland.
Scope of work
- Topographic survey and drainage design
- Outlet and receiving-water review
- Surface ditch or tile layout
- Excavation and installation
- Inlets, outlets, and erosion control
- As-built drawing and maintenance notes
How this works in Alberta
Water that will not leave a field costs you seeding days and yield. Good drainage design starts with where the water can legally go, not where it is easiest to dig.
Alberta regulates changes to wetlands, watercourses, and drainage under the Water Act and the provincial wetland policy. Draining or altering a wetland, or sending water to a neighbour, can require approval. Confirm with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas before you dig.
Design begins with a survey. Slope, outlet elevation, and soil type decide whether surface ditching, tile, or a combination is realistic. Tile is costly and works best on soils that can move water to it.
A free land report can show terrain, wetlands, and drainage lines on your parcel, a useful first look before you hire a designer.
Alberta providers
Provider matching in progress — no suppliers linked yet.
Common questions
Do I need approval to drain a field in Alberta?
Often, if wetlands or watercourses are involved. Confirm with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.
Tile or surface drainage?
It depends on soil, slope, and outlet. A survey and designer can compare costs and options.