Prevent Costly Damage with the Best Channel & Trench Drain Solutions for Outdoor Drainage
Are you looking for the best outdoor drainage solutions for water runoff from paved surfaces? NDS Channel and Trench Drain products will help make your drainage project a success and increase customer satisfaction. Preserve outdoor areas and protect properties from water damage with drainage products from NDS, maker of the bestselling channel drains in the USA. Let’s look at which channel drain product will work best for you.
How channel and trench drains work
Efficient drainage is important to prevent mildew, concrete discoloration, structural damage, slip hazards, erosion, and deteriorating asphalt or concrete. NDS channel and trench drains are proven to drain excess surface water effectively and help prevent costly water damage.


Channel drains and trench drains have similar uses for draining water runoff from paved surfaces. They’re secured into the ground and have grates that attach on top to prevent debris from entering and clogging the drain and pipeline downstream. Water runoff collects inside the drain, which then outlets to connected drainpipes. The pipes convey the water to other components, such as Flo-Well® Dry Wells, EZflow® and EZ Drain™ Gravel-Free French Drain Systems for detention and infiltration, and to a point of release, like a Pop-Up Emitter.
Know your flow

To select the correct channel and trench drain, you’ll need to know how much stormwater runoff to manage in Gallons Per Minute (GPM). This will help find the proper channel drain to handle the amount of runoff flow. Use the drainage calculators on ndspro.com to determine your peak runoff rate in GPM. NDS has several types of channel drains depending on runoff intensity and application. The different flow categories and recommended products are listed below:
- Solutions for light flows (0-39 GPM)
For light flows, there’s Micro Channel™, Slim Channel™, and Mini Channel™ Drains. Micro Channel™ Drains are best for pools decks, residential driveways, and sidewalks. In addition to working for these applications, Slim Channel™ and Mini Channel™ Drains are also well-suited for courtyards.
- Solutions for moderate flows (40-94 GPM)
Our Spee-D® Channel Drains can handle light flows and moderate flows. This makes them perfect for larger pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, and courtyards. The 3 in. Pro Series Channel™ Drains, ideal for moderate flows, work in areas such as pools, driveways, sidewalks, and courtyards.
- Solutions for heavy flows (95+ GPM)
Our 5 in., 8 in., and 12 in. Pro Series Channel™ Drains can handle moderate to heavy flow applications in areas such as sports facilities, parking lots, and warehouses. We also have Dura Slope™ and FILCOTEN® Trench Drains. They’re ideal for heavy flow commercial and industrial applications like loading docks, parking lots, and warehouses. However, they work in residential applications like pools decks and courtyards as well.


NDS offers a complete lineup of channel and trench drains and grates, and accessories such as adapters, outlets, and grate tape for easier installation and to customize drainage systems.
We can help!
We’re here to assist you with this project and any others you have in the future. NDS is the leader in stormwater management with proven products, tools, and support readily available for your residential, commercial, and industrial drainage needs. No matter the drainage problem, NDS has you covered!


To calculate peak flow runoff GPM with our drainage calculator, visit:
https://www.ndspro.com/tools-and-calculators/drainage-calculator
To help you select the right channel drain for your landscape or hardscape, visit: https://www.ndspro.com/choose-the-right-channel-drain.html
To explore our selection of NDS Channel and Trench Drains and Grates, visit: https://www.ndspro.com/products/drainage/channel-and-trench-drains.html