57 Drainage Directory | August 2024 Advertising Section | All content supplied by LICO writing with a form or contract. For farmers, even with the best possible design and installation, there are several reasons why the performance of a tile drainage system may not meet your expectations. Newly installed drainage systems may take months or years to settle and work optimally, so patience is key. However, there may be other reasons down the road that would impact system performance: • Collapsed or cut tiles: It is so tempt- ing to use a tractor or heavy equipment to pack down the mounding that occurs above a newly installed tile run. Don’t do it! It could damage or even crush the tile. Travel across or straddle new tile installations whenever possible. As well, utility companies have been known to cut tile during installation of buried utilities, caus- ing drainage issues. • Soil compaction: Compacted areas can drastically reduce the drainage potential of a field. Avoid doing field work on wet ground, especi- ally with repeated travel in an area. If you do see a wet area, try testing water infiltration rates at various depths of the soil profile. Compac- tion can be remediated through cover crops and vertical tillage in dry conditions. • Blocked tiles: Pipe can be blocked by various debris or roots. Manure can get into tile if applied at the wrong rate or time and can cause major issues to both the tile system and to water quality. Be especially careful around surface inlets to keep manure and other debris from entering the system. Keep trees at least 15 meters (50 feet) from tile and be sure to keep rodent guards intact at the out- lets. See the factsheet Farm Drainage Systems and Tree Roots (21-063). Also note that iron ochre can be present in organic soils and is difficult to manage; when pres- ent, it can greatly reduce the long- evity of a drainage system. Still, disputes can arise, and there are a few ways to deal with them. Often the cheapest and easiest resolution for a workmanship dispute is one done between the parties, with the support of a mediator if needed. This process requires both sides to make concessions for the other. It is important to note that correspondence should be documented in writing and include the property owner as well as the current occupant. Where a contractor feels that they have met all the requirements of Publication 29 and the Legislation but has not been able to satisfy the landowner’s concerns, the contractor or the landowner may wish to initiate an OMAFA inspection by contacting the Ministry. The Drainage Inspector can issue a report, and this can be considered evidence in a potential lawsuit. See more of this factsheet at drainage.org/factsheets
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