PVD Wick Drains

AWD, prefabricated vertical drain, vertical drain, soil drain

Engineered specialty wick drain product assists and accelerates the consolidation of saturated, compressible soils

  • AWD has manufactured PVD drains and provided product to installers for over 40 years

  • Roll Width: 4” (100mm)

  • Roll Length: 1,000’ (305m)

Custom products available upon request.

AWD, prefabricated vertical drain, vertical drain, soil drain
AWD, prefabricated vertical drain, vertical drain, soil drain
AWD, prefabricated vertical drain, vertical drain, soil drain

Wick Drains, also known as prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs), are prefabricated drains that are used for expedited soil consolidation where areas have soft, highly compressible soils. 

Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) are composed of a formed polypropylene core with molded channels, wrapped in a spunbonded nonwoven polypropylene geotextile filter fabric. They are supplied in large rolls and installed vertically into the ground using a hollow mandrel attached to a crane or excavator.

PVDs are ideal for soil conditions where slow consolidation and poor natural drainage could lead to prolonged settlement times. PVDs are commonly considered in the following soil conditions:

Soft, Compressible Soils
Soils like clay, silt, and other fine-grained soils with low permeability hold a lot of water and consolidate slowly, making drainage systems necessary to speed up settlement. PVDs provide direct drainage pathways, which are essential to accelerate consolidation in these soils.

High Pore Water Pressure
PVDs are often used when high pore water pressure (pressure exerted by water within the spaces/pores of a soil) is expected to develop from loading, as in cases of building large structures on soft ground or rapidly filling reclaimed land.

High Moisture Content
When the soil has a high natural moisture content, such as marshy or swampy areas, PVDs can help release excess pore water pressure more quickly, stabilizing the soil and expedite consolidation.

Anticipated Large Settlements
If significant settlement is expected due to new load (e.g., construction of buildings, highways, or embankments), PVDs can be installed to shorten the timeline of settlement, reducing delays in construction and potential issues with uneven foundation support.

Low Shear Strength
For soils with low shear strength, which may otherwise be unstable under added weight, PVDs can accelerate consolidation to improve stability before construction begins.

By installing PVDs in these types of soil conditions, projects can reduce the time needed for natural consolidation, creating a more stable and predictable foundation for construction.

AWD has been manufacturing and providing installers with PVD product for over 40 years. Because of this, AMERDRAIN PVD is one of the most widely used and accepted PVD designs in the industry.