Zoo & Animal Facility Drainage

Q: How do you keep exhibit washdown solids from clogging drains?

Give solids somewhere to stop before the pipe. Removable grates let keepers rinse the channel itself, and a catch basin upstream of the pipe run collects feed, bedding, and waste where staff can scoop it out. Solid or narrow-slot covers over the channel keep the larger debris out in the first place, and a daily rinse routine does the rest.

Q: How do you keep animals from getting into the drainage?

Specify locking grates so animals cannot lift or pry them, and match grate opening sizes to the species — hooves, claws, and small animals set the limit, not just the water. ACO's commercial lines offer locking grate options across the range; send the species list and exhibit details with a quote request and we will spec grates to suit.

Q: What drainage materials survive saltwater and disinfectants?

Saltwater exhibits and daily disinfectant washdown are hard on plain galvanized steel. Fiber-reinforced concrete channels such as BG Filcoten, polymer concrete bodies, and stainless-steel grate and edge options hold up far better. Tell us the exposure with your quote request and we will match materials to the chemistry.

Drainage by Application · Zoos & Animal Facilities

A zoo is four drainage projects wearing one master plan: exhibits that get hosed down with solids in the water, keeper areas under strict sanitation, public walkways that must be safe for strollers and wheelchairs, and service roads carrying feed and maintenance trucks. Each one specs differently.

What makes animal facilities hard on drainage

Exhibit washdown water is the worst water on the property — feed, bedding, and animal waste in every rinse, headed for grates that also have to be secure against the animals themselves. A grate an antelope can catch a hoof in, or a primate can pry up, is a spec failure no flow rate fixes. Front of house, the same drain lines cross public plazas where accessibility rules govern openings, while back of house, delivery and service roads take truck axles daily. Add saltwater exhibits and disinfectant regimes that eat plain galvanized steel, and material selection matters as much as capacity.

Load classes across the property

Public paths and plazas are pedestrian surfaces (Class A–B). Keeper carts and utility vehicles push routes into Class B–C, and service roads that carry feed deliveries and maintenance trucks belong at Class C–D. Settle each zone's class first with our Load Class Recommendation Guide — grate material and channel construction follow from it.

Recommended systems

Exhibits, holding & keeper areas Quote line

ACO KlassikDrain is the exhibit workhorse: modular trench drain in 4-, 8-, and 12-inch widths (K100/K200/K300) with a wide grate range, including locking options that stay put against curious animals. Pair it with catch basins upstream of pipe runs so washdown solids settle where keepers can scoop them out. Where an exhibit calls for all-stainless construction, we can also quote Josam trench and grate packages.

Service roads, delivery yards & wash pads Quote line

Where trucks cross daily, ACO PowerDrain steps up with ductile-iron edge rails and boltless locking grates built for constant heavy wheel loads. ABT engineered trench systems are also quotable for larger civil runs.

Saltwater & disinfectant-heavy areas

Marine exhibits and heavy-disinfectant zones call for corrosion-resistant bodies: BG Filcoten fiber-reinforced concrete channels resist salt- and chemical-laden water where plain galvanized steel does not last. See the Filcoten FAQs & resources for the material story.

Public plazas, paths & grate replacement

Guest areas need heel-proof, accessibility-compliant grates — our ADA drainage guide covers the opening and placement rules. For replacing worn or unsafe grates across an older campus, we supply cast iron, ductile iron, and steel grates and decorative grates for feature hardscape, with foundry lines from EJ and US Foundry available through the quote desk.

Planning tip: exhibits add washdown volume on top of storm flow, every day. Run each catchment through the runoff calculator with the hose-down volume in mind before fixing channel sizes.

Supporting resources

Load Class Recommendation Guide — public paths to feed-truck routes, rated right
ADA-compliant drainage design guide — grate openings and placement for guest areas
Filcoten trench drain FAQs & resources — corrosion-resistant fiber concrete, explained
Sizing for storms: estimating runoff — what each catchment actually sheds
Drainage FAQs & resources hub

Frequently asked questions

How do you keep exhibit washdown solids from clogging drains?

Give solids somewhere to stop: removable grates so keepers can rinse the channel, a catch basin upstream where feed and bedding settle for scooping, and solid or narrow-slot covers to keep larger debris out in the first place.

How do you keep animals from getting into the drainage?

Specify locking grates animals cannot lift or pry, and match opening sizes to the species — hooves and claws set the limit, not just the water. Send the species list with a quote request and we will spec grates to suit.

What drainage materials survive saltwater and disinfectants?

Fiber-reinforced concrete like Filcoten, polymer concrete bodies, and stainless grate and edge options outlast plain galvanized steel in salt and chemical exposure. Tell us the exposure and we will match materials to the chemistry.