n 1979, Roger Bossard, Head Groundskeeper, Chicago White Sox, was the first major league facility to use a sand slit system from England. Roger Bossard says, “In my opinion, to this day this is the best drainage system used on native soil fields.”

DRAINAGE INSTALLATION

Van's Enterprises, LTD.  -  90 Le Baron Street, Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: 847-367-7828  -  Email: info@vansenterprises.com 
Visit our sand channel drainage website: http://www.sandchanneldrainage.com/ 
Copyright ©. Van's Enterprises Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Advantages of soilmaster slit system over other drainage systems:

  • Reduce rainouts
  • Relieves ponding not gathered by conventional drainage systems
  • Promotes external and internal drainage
  • Reduce soil cavity compaction 
  • Reduce potential injury
  • System relief not provided by other systems


Advantages of sand slit system over conventional drainage systems:

  • Reduce rainouts 
  • Relieves ponding not gathered by conventional drainage systems 
  • Promotes external and internal drainage 
  • Reduce soil cavity compaction 
  • Reduce potential injury 
  • Promotes plant growth


The native soil in Northern Illinois reacts like other native soil fields when it rains; the infiltration rates are very slow and moderate amounts of rain results in standing water, loss of turf cover, and muddy/unsafe playing conditions.

A cost effective way to remedy this situation is to use a bypass system in the native soil. These are channels backfilled with a material that drains. This method has been practiced in Europe for decades.

Our machine creates channels 9” deep, .75” wide and are 10” apart. These slits are filled with sand to the surface. The grass quickly grows over the slits, showing no signs of drainage installed.

The field is ready for play immediately. With the proper field maintenance procedures “aerification and topdressing," this system will eliminate at least 50% of your potential rainouts.

Get more in-depth information about sand channel drainage at:
http://www.sandchanneldrainage.com/