Horizon Landscape

7 Common Property Drainage Problems and How to Resolve Them

You may not have control over when it rains or how much it rains, but there are things you can do to lessen the impact that rainwater has on your property. Without proper drainage, water can collect in your yard creating structural issues to your home, damage to plants and flowers, an increase in bugs and a messy, swampy mess. Signs that you may have poor drainage are:

  • Water in the basement
  • Mosquitoes breeding in puddling water
  • Dead grass, trees and plants suffocating/drowning
  • Ice building up on walkways and patios in the winter

Let’s discuss seven of the most common property drainage problems and what you can do to resolve them.

Problem #1: Improperly Installed Downspouts and Gutters

solutions to the problems of drainage

To fix, make sure all downspouts are pointed away from the home and that they lead far enough away from the dwelling. Connect these spouts to a drainage system if necessary to carry the water even further.

Even more importantly, be sure to clean your gutters. At Horizon Landscape, the biggest drainage issue we see is gutters that are overflowing. Sometimes, a tennis ball will be thrown up in the air and onto the roof -and plop! – it lands in the gutter. This will then create a cover over the leader drain so the gutter overflows. And sometimes, it’s not just balls in the gutters, either. We’ve seen everything from dead squirrels to bird nests to sticks, leaves and debris piling up and blocking the downspout. It’s amazing to see how much blows around and collects in the gutters or are carried there by squirrels and birds looking for a place to nest or hide food.

If you want to see if your gutters are the issue, grab an umbrella and step outside when it’s raining, observe the gutters and check if there are wet areas around your house. This is a quick and easy way to see where the issue is stemming from.

Problem #2: Improper Grading

In a perfect world, lots are graded to drain so that water moves away from the house and flows through a swale, to a drainage catch basin or down to the curb. Unfortunately, homeowners, landscapers and builders don’t always get their grades right, and this can cause water to become trapped, or worse yet, flow toward the house and into the basement, home or building. The solution to this watery mess: a new drainage plan. The plan may involve drains to collect water and pipe it away, subsurface drainage to collect water as it percs into the ground or regrading to direct the water in the correct direction.

Problem #3: Run Off From Neighbors

Erosion coming from higher elevations is a major problem, and it happens when you live downhill from other properties. It’s not really your neighbors’ fault that this is happening, but you can’t exactly ask them to prevent it, either. The best thing to do is to watch at how the water runs into your yard during a rainstorm. You can then divert the water by building a berm or swale, or by re-routing the water to a catch basin or dry well. Another option is to hire a professional landscaper to grade broad surfaces.

Problem #4: Your Landscaping

It’s hard to believe that your hard work may be causing the problems, but it’s possible. Bare soil without vegetation, a yard that slopes toward your home or paved surfaces that direct water to the structure are all potential problems. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks of these things when making amendments to the home. The key is to divert the water elsewhere, which can be done with French drains or other creative solutions like gravel and rocks.

Often we see that people use too much topsoil or mulch in their planting beds, or they were simply graded the wrong way when they were created. They become raised and slope back toward the house, causing water to run back and against or into the home. If the gutters overflow, too, then you have real problems. Be sure the grade of the planting beds is AWAY from the home or structure.

Problem #5: Roots in your drainage pipes

If you notice your drains are backing up, it may not be a crushed or broken pipe but roots that have invaded the pipe. Sometimes we find that they squeeze in at joints and quickly grow, breaking the fitting and loving all the moisture in the pipe. In a short time, they not only block the pipe but completely fill it requiring removal of the pipe or a root cutting service to come in and mechanically clean the pipe out. Occasionally we find perforated pipe used in shallow situations or near trees. This allows grass roots or tree roots to quickly find the source of moisture and invade the pipe. After you clean the pipe of roots – be sure that perforated pipe is wrapped in filter fabric when close to roots and glue the joints to keep roots from finding a way into the pipe.

Problem #6: Surface Depressions

If water is collecting in flat areas or the soil is staying saturated in some spots, it may be surface depressions causing the problem. These depressions allow water to puddle, creating a mess. A swale could be helpful, or certain portions could be filled in and graded so that the water drains out of the low spot and away from the home. If this doesn’t work, an underground catch basin or drain may be necessary.

Problem #7: Your Soil

If you notice that your lawn is muddy in one spot and dry in the next, it could be the type of soil that is causing drainage problems. There are three basic soil types: sand, silt and clay. If your soil is heavy in clay, it won’t drain very well. If it’s sandy, it will let water slip right through. If it is sandy right against your home, the water will run down the sides of your foundation causing wet areas in the walls to your basement.

The best trick is to dig a small hole, fill it with water and watch how it drains. If it takes 12-24 hours to drain, you have a problem. (It should only take about 4 hours.) Improve your soil with a coarse aggregate like sand or pea gravel and organic matter.

If you are experiencing one or more of the drainage problems we describe, these tips will help you resolve the problem. Often we find that several issues contribute to the situation. We’re happy to help you figure it all out — just schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our drainage experts.  Call 201-848-0022  or complete our consultation request form . We’ll get back to you right away to schedule a visit to your property.

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How to Improve Drainage in Your Yard

By Andrea Axsom on May 8, 2023

Home Improvement & DIY

Every homeowner knows the value of keeping up their home’s curb appeal. So what do you do when pools of water disrupt your beautiful yard? Identify the underlying cause, then get to work on the solution. Luckily, most yard drainage problems can be traced back to a fixable cause ​​— often one you can tackle yourself.

Standing water is the most common sign your yard is not draining properly. Flooded tree roots and overflowing gutters are other symptoms to look out for.

Even if you’re not worried about curb appeal , addressing poor drainage matters, as pooling water can lead to a variety of serious problems. This includes foundation damage , peeling paint , basement flooding and even mold. It’s important to resolve these issues as soon as they appear to prevent further damage.

6 Common Causes of Drainage Problems

Here are some of the most common drain issues in yards.

1. Yard Slope or Pitch

Ideally, your yard should be sloped in a way that allows water to drain away from your home. If you notice your yard isn’t draining, it may be because the soil wasn’t graded properly.

“If your yard rests towards the bottom of a hilly area, water will begin to pool in the lowest sections of the yard since it has nowhere else to go.” Conor Battles | The Basement Guys Cleveland

What’s the First Sign?

  • Large puddling in one spot

What Can Happen if I Don’t Fix It?

  • Soggy soil and mud
  • Brown patches of grass
  • Foundation damage
  • Mold growth

2. Impacted Soil

Have you recently installed a pool in your yard? This type of construction project can pack your soil so tightly that it can’t drain. Hardpan clay is especially problematic when impacted since it can retain moisture longer than other types of soil. Natural underground springs can also cause too much moisture and contribute to impacted soil.

“Most yard drainage issues are caused by homeowner projects. When developers set up a master plan, drainage is usually set correctly. Unfortunately, when people move into their home, they install things like pools and gazebos that disrupt the soil.” Robert Sherwood | French Drain Man
  • Hard and dense soil
  • Pooling water, especially in areas where you’ve completed projects
  • Low spots in your yard

Water Puddling Under Gutter Downspout.

3. Short Gutter Downspout

Your gutter is designed to direct water away from the foundation of your home, but water can still puddle if the downspout isn’t long enough.

  • Big puddles under your downspout
  • Basement flooding

4. Barriers Like Sidewalks, Walkways and Rocks

If a sidewalk or concrete path sits in front of your house, it may be the cause of flooding in your yard. When sidewalks are installed at a higher elevation than the surface of your soil, water can flow off the sidewalk and into your yard.

  • Standing water in low spots
  • Mosquito attraction

Yard With Thin Patchy Areas of Grass

5. Runoff Erosion

Runoff from stormwater and your downspout can strip away some of the topsoil in your yard. As topsoil is washed away, your yard is left with the compacted dirt below that can’t absorb water easily. Water will begin to collect in these places, and as topsoil keeps eroding, you’ll see more and more flooding.

  • Thin, patchy areas of grass
  • Exposed tree roots
  • Damaged plant beds

Water Line Bursting

6. Broken Water or Sewer Lines

Excessive water pressure can cause water lines to break and leak underground. If you have a septic tank, keep an eye on standing water near the unit or drain field — this is an indication of septic tank flooding.

  • Low water pressure
  • Wet spots in yard
  • Discolored or odored water
  • High water bills

8 Yard Drainage Solutions You Can Do Yourself

Once you’ve identified your issue and the most likely cause, you can use one of the following lawn drainage solutions.

Quick and Easy Lawn Drainage Solutions

1. water less often.

If there’s no clear cause of your drainage problems, it’s possible that you’re overwatering your yard or garden. Cut down on your watering and watch to see if the trouble spots improve. If they do, the soil could be draining properly but simply can’t keep up with your watering schedule. If not, it may be time to get your hands dirty.

“Maintaining a dry yard is a crucial part of homeownership. When water is allowed to accumulate, especially near the foundation or other vulnerable parts of the home, it can often lead to leaks and other issues that can balloon into a much bigger problem.” Conor Battles | The Basement Guys Cleveland

Person Raking Dirt into Yard.

2. Add More Dirt

If you only have a few shallow areas in your yard that collect water after a rainfall, add dirt to those spots. Simply scatter topsoil over the low spots and rake it in.

Think your yard needs a thorough grade correction? Place a level against the soil directly surrounding your home’s foundation. If it is graded correctly, the ground will drop about 1 inch for every foot that you move away from the house. If it doesn’t, add more soil around your house. Make sure the soil does not come into contact with your siding. You should see at least 4 inches of your concrete foundation above the soil.

Pro tip: If you discover damage to your home’s foundation, make sure to correct it before adding dirt. Water can seep into dirt and eat away at already compromised materials.

Extended Downspout Installed Away From Home.

3. Extend Your Downspout

If you find that the runoff causing your yard drainage problems is coming from your gutter system, try extending the downspout away from your house so it doesn’t form a basin. Just make sure that you point the extended downspout towards a storm drain or other safe drainage area, not a neighboring property.

While you’re at it, make sure the gutters themselves are working properly. Blocked or faulty gutters can cause water to overflow, leading to costly damage. If your roof turns into a waterfall every time it rains, it may be time to tackle a few gutter repairs . At the very least, check that they are clear of debris and pests.

“An easy way to ensure that your yard is protected from unnecessary water intrusion is to make sure that your gutters, downspouts and discharge lines are all working properly. This helps keep water from accumulating in the yard and potentially breaching your foundation, leading to leaks and other home safety concerns.” Conor Battles | The Basement Guys Cleveland

Person Pushing Aerator in Yard

Aerating your yard creates holes in the lawn and breaks up compacted soil underneath. This yard drainage solution allows air, nutrients and water to reach the roots of your grass, reducing runoff.

You can rent an aerator from a local home improvement store or use a manual spike aerator. Whichever tool you choose, make sure to rake up loose sticks and debris from your lawn before using it. After you’re finished aerating, leave the extra soil to break down naturally. For optimal results, add fertilizer after aeration.

5. Remove Large Rocks

Decorative rocks in your yard, if not placed properly, can also create barriers to runoff, causing water to pool in undesirable locations. Consider relocating or removing some rocks to ensure rainwater has a clear path out of your yard.

More Advanced DIY Yard Drainage Solutions

If our quick and easy solutions aren’t doing the trick, here’s how to fix water drainage problems in your yard with a little more effort.

Creek Bed With Surrounding Landscaping

6. Dig a Creek Bed or Swale

Installing a creek bed is a solution to backyard flooding that works well and looks good, too. It creates a drainage channel and redirects water away from your house in a way that can really level up your landscaping look. Similarly, a swale is a sunken area that collects water, but does not contain as many rocks.

  • Once you decide where you want the creek bed to go, mark the spot with stakes.
  • Use a shovel or excavator to remove the top layer of soil. The bed should have a gradual slope of about 1 inch per every 10 feet. Use a level to check the slope.
  • Cover the trench with landscape fabric.
  • Add a layer of small rocks.
  • Start running water from your hose to the bed and test the flow. Make sure the water doesn’t pool in any areas.
  • For a visual boost, surround the bed with plants.

Green Hosta Leaves and Pink Astilbe Flowers in Rain Garden

7. Construct a Rain Garden

Consider turning your soggy patch into a rain garden to catch rainfall so it doesn’t flood your yard. Rain gardens are usually filled with water-loving plants like hostas, ferns and ornamental mosses that help dry out saturated areas. They don’t necessarily solve the yard drainage issue, but they’re definitely more attractive than a muddy hole full of soaked grass.

A completed rain garden will ideally drain water within 24 hours. This number, as well as how absorbent your soil is, can help you figure out how deep to dig the garden. You can dig a small hole in the area, fill it with water, and watch how fast it drains as a test to help determine the right depth. Your rain garden can also be the ending point of a downspout or creek bed.

8. Install a French Drain or Dry Well

What’s the difference.

Dry wells and French drains are different lawn drainage solutions. A French drain is a very effective pipe drainage system that channels runoff water to a single point. While dry wells can be helpful, they aren’t effective during the rainy seasons when soils are saturated.

“Unlike a dry well, a French drain discharges to a storm drain or a ditch. Since it goes somewhere and you’re able to discharge water, it works really well.” Robert Sherwood | French Drain Man

How to Install a French Drain

Digging a hole is hard work, but you can create a DIY French drain in a few steps. If you’re not sure where to start on gathering the right supplies, consider investing in a French drain kit .

  • Identify the area in your yard that needs a rain drainage solution. Make sure the drain is at least 10 feet away from your house or septic system. Decide what type of drainage system you want to send your water to.
  • Dig the trench with a shovel or trenching machine. The trench should be about 18 inches wide and 24 inches deep, depending on the size of your pipe. The trench should slope downhill, away from your home. Hand digging is easiest in the spring, when the soil is still wet.
  • Line the trench with landscaping fabric and secure it with sod staples. This will keep dirt, roots and other debris from clogging the drain system.
  • Place the drain pipe in the trench . Check that the pipe has a continuous downward slope. Your drain should slope downward at least 1 inch for every 10 feet of pipe. The pipe should run from your home’s downspout to a storm drain.
  • Add a gravel layer around the pipe . Fill the trench to about 2 inches below the surface.
  • Finish installation with a layer of topsoil and plant grass to backfill the trench. Alternatively, you can keep the sod you originally dug up and place it over the top. Water the area periodically as it dries out.

How to Install a Dry Well

Installing a dry well involves an almost identical process to installing a French drain. Just make sure the hole for your dry well is about 4 feet deep and the pipe running toward the dry well slopes one-quarter inch per foot.

I Fixed My Drainage Problem — Now What?

Now that you know how to fix landscape drainage in your yard, check out the following posts to make your yard the space you want.

  • 11 Backyard Landscaping Ideas on a Budget
  • How to Make Your Backyard Private
  • 7 Dog Friendly Backyard Ideas

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Consider how an integration project will impact your routine and the do-it-yourself options available.

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We have a flooded backyard and it keeps getting worse. We have added soil and has not worked. Our backyard is like a bowl. The property behind us slopes down and it goes onto our backyard. We need help and ideas. Looking forward to hearing from you. We don’t have a lot of money. Help!

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I have the same problem, I have had people come look at my yard and give a few options. one common option was to put down fake grass so my yard does not get muddy, but is it super expensive, at least my quote. I am still trying to figure out what to do. Plus I have 2 dogs who loves to run around the back yard. I feel your pain, good luck.

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Without knowing your specific layout, it’s hard to say, but if it’s anything like what we had at a rental some years ago, I’d say the best bet is to have a drain near the bottom of your bowl of a backyard that connects to piping to take it elsewhere. Then again, if the slope of the bowl is steep enough, it may be impossible to have the drain pipe have at least an even, preferably downward, slope out of the bowl. Alternatively, fill your bowl with dirt, or partially fill it to where the slope is marginal enough to put in the drain. Good luck.

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Same with my yard, Robyn. My yard somewhat terraced and the upper terrace slopes so water goes to my backyard, underneath my french doors and it has leaked underneath the outside of my house into my kitchen, dining room and bedroom during torrential, heavy rains. I have no idea what to do. I’ve gotten one estimate for $2500.00 to put in plastic near the foundation, flower beds and a type of trench, as he stated that he would not do a french drain because the get clogged up so he will not guarantee those. Still on the hunt for the best solution.

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House we bought 2 years ago has the same problem we have the land to the side and behind us that drains into our yard and the yard is shaped like a bowl. We also live in KY so we get a lot of rain… think Seattle Bay area for those that don’t know Kentucky’s grey skies and rain. It’s basically a pond 30ft wide, 1-2 ft deep pond back there that almost never dries up. Additionally all the run off and flooding come into the back door making us contend with a wet utility room, mold, insects often. Had someone come by to survey the land for a drain, and they said it was impossible because there was no where for that much water to drain to . Any suggestions would be helpful It’s so wet back there we can’t keep up on mowing and often are trying to prevent City fines for over growth.

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Oh man! Our backyard is a lake!!! We asked our surrounding neighbors if the had a main drain from the “City” and asked if we could divert the lake there! So our plan is to fill in the yard to slightly slope towards the main drain! Will let you know how it works out!

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Hi Diane, Keep us posted on how this works out for you, and thanks for reading!

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5 Smart Solutions for Dealing with Poor Drainage in Your Yard

Constantly soggy soil makes it tough for most garden plants to survive. Use these ideas to either fix the problem or work better with what you have.

Megan Hughes has a passion for plants that drives her to stay on top of the latest garden advancements and time-tested ways of growing great plants. She travels regularly to learn about new plants and technology and is closely connected to the innovation side of the horticulture industry. She has more than 25 years of experience in horticulture.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

solutions to the problems of drainage

If you've tried to grow much of anything in your garden, you've likely heard the advice to give your plants a well-drained spot. That's because the soil has tiny pore spaces that hold oxygen that roots need to stay healthy. If your soil is not well-drained, those pore spaces fill up with water, leading to all kinds of plant growth challenges, including disease, fungus growth, and rot . But there is good news! Some plants thrive in constantly moist, even wet, soil . And there are a few landscape tactics you can use to improve poorly drained soil so you can grow a larger variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

How Wet Is Your Soil?

The first step in working with soggy soil is to get to know it better. Determine which areas of your yard get frustratingly wet and how long they stay that way. Consider the moisture level of the soil throughout the seasons, also how quickly water dissipates after a big rain, and how often the area has standing water.

Here's a simple test that's used in the landscape trade to gauge the drainage of a particular soil . Dig a hole 18 inches deep and about 12 inches wide in the wet area. Fill the hole with water. The water level should drop steadily and be completely drained within 24 hours. If there is still standing water after one day, repeat the test several weeks later to determine if you have a seasonal drainage issue (spring runoff, for example) or a year-round wet soil challenge.

1. Mix in Compost

If your poor drainage area is a relatively small one and not too severe, you can lighten the soil by working in lots of organic matter . Compost is filled with pore spaces for oxygen. Mix it with slow draining soil to help add valuable air pockets. This is a multi-year process. Incorporate 3-4 inches of compost yearly to improve drainage over time.

2. Grow Water-Loving Plants

If the soggy area is too large to alter by adding compost or isn't going to change (a riverbank, for example), you have several alternatives. The simplest approach is to choose water-loving plants, such as marsh marigold , cardinal flower , and turtlehead , and, if necessary, to construct raised paths or boardwalks through the garden so that you can enjoy the garden from a drier viewpoint.

3. Build a Rain Garden

A rain garden is a terrific solution for areas that are prone to periodic sogginess. These hardworking landscape features collect and filter runoff water, allowing it to slowly percolate into the landscape. Rain gardens are filled with plants that appreciate wet soil but will also tolerate short dry periods.

4. Create a Bog Garden or Pond

Another, more elaborate solution to a poorly drained spot is to create a pond, bog, or water garden . This will probably require some professional help: The land will have to be carefully sculpted in order to hold enough water in the area. The added bonus of having a small pond on your property is that wildlife naturally gravitates toward wet areas for drinking and bathing. Numerous birds, such as grackles, mocking birds, catbirds, cardinals, and nuthatches, are sure to seek out your wet garden .

5. Install Drain Tile

A more labor-intensive solution to altering a site with poor drainage is to excavate the soil and install underground drainage tile. Attention to detail is key to success when installing drain tile. Carefully analyze slope, tile depth, and where the water will outlet. A rain garden or bog garden might be necessary near the drain tile outlet. It's often best to involve a landscape professional for this project, but if you would like to tackle it yourself, here are the tools, materials, and instructions to use.

What You Need:

  • Corrugated drainage tile
  • Stones or groundcover

Step 1: Dig a Trench

Dig a trench from the wet area to the desired drainage area. An 18-inch-deep trench will usually work for most landscape drainage situations. The trench should have enough of a slope to move the water to the drainage area. Make the trench an inch or two wider than the pipe you plan to install.

Step 2: Spread Gravel

Spread a few inches of gravel in the bottom of the trench and rake smooth. Lay drain tile on top of the gravel.

Step 3: Cover and Protect Pipe

Cover the entire drainage pipe with a few inches of gravel to prevent soil particles from plugging the openings in the tile. Then, fill the trench to the surface level with topsoil.

Step 4: Camouflage Outlet

At the pipe's outlet, cover the drainage field with stones or with a moisture-loving groundcover without blocking the pipe. If you're worried about critters getting into the pipe, place wire mesh over the opening. If you do cover the end, make sure to clean debris off the mesh to avoid blockages.

solutions to the problems of drainage

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How to Improve Yard Drainage

Poor yard drainage is more than just a nuisance. Standing water can destroy your lawn, invite pests and even jeopardize your home. Here are some things you can do to improve the drainage in your yard and around your house.

Standing Water in Yard

Standing Water in Yard

If water stands in your yard for hours or even days after a moderate rain, you have poor drainage, which can be caused by heavy, compacted soils or improper grading. If this occurs near your home’s foundation, it can lead to nasty moisture issues in your basement or crawlspace. Fortunately, a French drain or re-grading the property can usually solve this problem.

Photo by: ©iStockphoto.com/samheaton

©iStockphoto.com/samheaton

solutions to the problems of drainage

Related To:

Where’s the water from and where’s it gotta go.

Before you can determine how to drain an area of your yard, you’ll need to make some basic observations first. Where is the water coming from? Meaning, is it runoff from a neighbor’s yard? Is it sheeting off of your shed’s roof? Do you have too many rain gutters emptying into the same spot? Identifying the causes of excess volumes of water goes a long way toward choosing the solutions that are right for you.

Next, you’ll really want to understand why a particular spot is holding water. Is it a low spot in the yard that can just be landscaped so that it drains? Or do you have garden beds holding water and not draining properly? Maybe the terrain around your house doesn’t adequately guide water away from the homesite. These issues may require heavy changes in the landscape to address drainage issues.

Finally, you’ll want to know which way you can divert water so that it’s safely away from your home and that of your neighbors. Ideally, you’ll take excess water out to the street or local stormwater system and away from your home and your neighbors'. Now that you’ve thought about the causes of your drainage issues, here are some solutions that can help you move water away from your yard properly.

French Drains

Drainage Pipe Emptying Into Pebbles

Drainage Pipe Emptying Into Pebbles

Hide the end of a drainage ditch with attractive pebbles.

solutions to the problems of drainage

While they require a fair amount of elbow grease, French drains are a great way to disperse water over a large area, and they’re used to deal with a large number of drainage issues. French drains do not require an outlet; instead, they rely on a perforated pipe laid in a gravel trench to collect and disperse water as it flows along the inside of the pipe. Learn how to install a French drain.

French drains are unique in that you can have an inlet on both sides of the pipe, so that two areas can flow into the same drain. French drains can be used in conjunction with gutters or dry wells to reduce surface water runoff.

The Dry Well

Dry wells are perforated tanks surrounded by aggregate that receive water piped from other areas. The water collects into the well and slowly seeps into the ground through the perforations in the side of the tank. This system can ingest a large volume of water and contain it so that the soil doesn’t become super saturated. An effective dry well should be able to collect the first 20 minutes of your largest average rainstorm of the year. You can connect a variety of drainage devices to a dry well, including French drains, gutters and channel drains.

It might be necessary to consult your local building inspector and ask if permits are required for a dry well. Since a dry well can have an impact on groundwater, certain municipalities might require specific designs or materials to mitigate any threats your dry well might potentially pose.

Gutter Downspouts

The gutters on your home could be contributing to the mass of water collecting in your yard. As your home’s gutters collect rain, they eject it through the nearest downspout. If your downspouts are emptying into an area that runs uphill or tends to collect water, it might be time to redirect your gutters.

You can attach a rigid drain pipe to the end of a gutter spout to carry water away from problem areas. Or, if it’s feasible, simply dig a dry creek bed for your gutter to empty into that will carry water away from problem areas.

Rain Gardens Are the Eco Solution

Front Yard Rain Garden

Rain Garden With Flowers

Rain gardens earn their keep, catching rain water runoff from roofs, driveways and lawns. A well-designed rain garden holds runoff long enough so it can soak into soil, instead of running into storm sewers. It also helps clean rain water runoff by removing up to 90 percent of fertilizer nutrients and up to 80 percent of sediments. Best of all, a rain garden can look gorgeous while effectively handling storm water runoff. This rain garden design features strong summer and fall color, with gold black-eyed susan, purple Russian sage, purple coneflower and rose-pink ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum.

Photo by: RainDogDesigns.com/wordpress

RainDogDesigns.com/wordpress

Sometimes it’s either not feasible to solve a large drainage problem, or it’s too costly. When that happens, it might be time to consider an alternate landscaping choice. There are lots of options for native plants that thrive in soggy areas and that create a habitat for birds, frogs, insects and all kinds of wildlife that depend on them for food and shelter. Rain gardens can soak up tremendous amounts of water, are easy to care for and provide hours of enjoyment for homeowners. Check out some of HGTV's favorite rain gardens for inspiration and tips for building your own.

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solutions to the problems of drainage

ROADEX Network

solutions to the problems of drainage

  • E-Learning Lessons
  • 1.1 History
  • 1.2 Problems caused by poor drainage
  • Lesson 1 Test
  • 2.1 General about water
  • 2.2 Free water – bound water, saturation, porosity
  • 2.3 Interaction of air and water
  • 2.4 Chemical and electrical and properties water in soils and aggregates
  • 2.5 Water content and methods to define it
  • 2.6 Water and thermodynamics
  • 2.7 Ground water – capillary zone – intermediate vadose zone
  • 2.8 What happens when a road/ soil freezes
  • Lesson 2 Test
  • 3.1 Water and bearing capacity
  • 3.2 Water, frost and frost action
  • 3.3 Seasonal changes
  • 3.4 Water and bound layers
  • Lesson 3 Test
  • 4.1 General
  • 4.2 Pavement and wearing course
  • 4.3 Side ditches
  • 4.4 Outlet ditches
  • 4.5 Main road culverts
  • 4.6 Access road culverts
  • 4.7 Road drainage structures & layers
  • 4.8 Vertical drainage structures, underdrains
  • 4.9 Inner and outer slope drainage structures
  • 4.10 Special drainage structures
  • Lesson 4 Test

5.1 General

  • 5.2 Maintenance related drainage problems
  • 5.3 Topography related drainage problems and solutions
  • 5.4 Special design related problems
  • Lesson 5 Test
  • 6.1 Why drainage analysis is needed
  • 6.2 Components of drainage analysis
  • 6.3 Drainage analysis techniques
  • 6.4 Analyzing the results from the drainage analysis
  • 6.5 Locating problem areas
  • 6.6 Reporting results of drainage analysis
  • Lesson 6 Test
  • 7.1 Greenland (Sisimiut)
  • 7.2 Finland
  • 7.3 Iceland
  • 7.4 Ireland
  • 7.6 Scotland, Highland
  • 7.7 Scotland, Western Isles
  • Drainage of Low Volume Roads

5. Drainage problems and how to avoid them

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The ROADEX project has grouped the common drainage problems on low volume roads into three main categories; a) maintenance related, b) design related and c) other specific problems. Ground conditions, landscapes and climates vary significantly across the Northern Periphery area but the problems encountered are basically the same. The only small exception is in Scotland and Ireland where grass verges are used.

The following lesson describes each problem, how to diagnose it, and offers proposals on how to improve matters.

5.2. Maintenance related drainage problems

The “maintenance related” category covers all of those drainage problems that can be avoided by good maintenance policies and practices. Currently most drainage maintenance works in the Northern Periphery are carried out by contractors and as a result drainage descriptions in the contract procurement documents have become highly critical issue.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Poor drainage maintenance can have a major effect on the lifetime of a pavement and annual paving costs. It can also affect traffic safety. For this reason accurate definitions and requirements for each drainage maintenance task should be included in the contract documents, and followed up on site to ensure that the contractor fulfills its duties.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.2.1. Seasonal drainage management

A number of drainage maintenance operations are directly linked to the seasons, and especially to the winter and spring periods. These operation require good continuous monitoring of weather conditions, and a maintenance contractor with a good ”touch” for operational timing to prevent road damages occurring, and prolong the lifetime of the pavement. Neglecting such maintenance works can have a major effect on annual paving costs. A good bonus system for contractors doing good work in these operations, as well as stiff sanctions for failing to deliver performance, would be a profitable option for road owners. A range of the key seasonal drainage maintenance operations are described in the following sections. Operations associated with frozen culverts are described in chapter 5.2.3 together with other culvert maintenance operations.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Management of snow walls

Snow walls occur during winter operations when snow is removed from the road surface and deposited at the road edge as a thick wall. The presence of this wall can be acceptable during the cold winter periods, and can in fact act as a frost insulation layer on the inner road slope. When temperatures rise however these snow walls can thaw and the thawing water can flow on to the road reducing traffic safety, and the bearing capacity of the road shoulders. For this reason snow walls should be removed from road shoulders before the thawing of the snow begins.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Roads located on side sloping ground in cold climate areas can be exposed to sheet icing especially if the water table in the upper side of the road is very close to the ground surface and the water flow in the ground is small and relatively slow. Where this happens, the groundwater seeping to the upper ditch cannot flow fast enough, due to an obstacle or a low gradient, and starts to freeze and form ice in the bottom of the ditch. New water flowing to this ditch will fill the ditch with sheet ice. Sheet ice can also form in a ditch when the groundwater flow under the road is blocked by frost in the road. Sheet ice can additionally be a common problem on bedrock cuts in a road on side sloping ground.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The only solution for the unexpected and sudden formation of sheet ice is to excavate out the ice to ensure that water can flow away from the road area. This work should be done before the snow starts to melt. The ROADEX project has shown that melting water can infiltrate into the road structures causing differential frost heave in the road and shoulder deformation.

solutions to the problems of drainage

ROADEX has also shown that frozen, clogged or missing main road culverts, and access road culverts, can be major causes for the formation of sheet ice. Maintenance contractor should therefore ensure that culverts in road sections subject to sheet ice are kept open. Sheet ice may additionally form if snow from bus stops and rest areas on the upper side of the road is stored on the top of ditch and this compacted snow starts to block the water flow in the ditch.

solutions to the problems of drainage

If sheet ice appears every winter in the same sections preventative measures or structures should be considered. A good solution in many places has been the installation of a heater cable in the bottom of the ditch to prevent water from freezing. A local solar panel can produce enough electricity for this heater cable. Deep drainage in the upper part of the road has also helped with sheet ice problems in many places. Sheet ice on side ditches can be prevented with special drainage structures that handle the water before it reaches the side ditch. These structures, tested in Arctic Road Construction project in Finnish Lapland in the late 1980´s, have proven to work well even after 20 years in place. The most sustainable solution however in most cases is a new main road culvert in the place where groundwater is seeping to the ditch forming sheet ice.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Drainage and spring thaw weakening

The ROADEX project has shown that poor drainage maintenance can be a factor in spring thaw weakening problems on roads, particularly on gravel roads, but also on paved roads. A typical road can be exposed to deformation in the base course, i.e. Mode 1 rutting, if snow is not removed from the road shoulders early enough, or if the ditches are full of water. Similarly an inadequately functioning road drainage system will not permit the road surface time to dry out and become stiff enough to carry loads when the frost thawing front reaches the subgrade. In these cases the road can become totally plastic and impassable for vehicles. Good drainage systems with sufficiently deep ditches will reduce, if not prevent, Mode 2 rutting.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.2.2. Maintenance problems with ditches and subdrains

solutions to the problems of drainage

Wet soil around ditches is unstable and can flow to the bottom of the ditch raising its level. Vegetation likes the moist conditions in the bottom of a ditch and in time can fill the ditch if not removed early enough. One consequence of this is that the groundwater table will rise and moisture content will increase in the road structure. This will reduce the bearing capacity and the road will begin to suffer from frost action. ROADEX research has shown that even a small blockage in the water flow in a side ditch can be reflected as differential frost heave in the adjacent road, and further as shoulder deformation and pavement cracking.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The main issue in the maintenance of ditches and subdrains is the lack of cleaning. The policy in all ROADEX countries is that when the ditches are filled to a certain level (higher than 0.3 m from the bottom of road structures) the ditch must be cleaned out. However this operation usually has a low priority in road repair measures and often a new pavement has been the easier choice. Unfortunately this means that engineers have been dealing with the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying reason for the problems, with the result that the same problems appear after a few years. The need for regular ditch clearing is greatest in the areas of fine graded subgrade soils. These same soil types also have a low bearing capacity at high moisture content and it is therefore necessary to have a well working drainage system to keep them dry.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Major maintenance issue with roadside ditches is that maintenance operations are not done often enough. All the boulders, trees and other objects that could block the water flow in the ditch should be removed every year before they cause more problems. In addition soil that has been sliding to the bottom of ditches should be removed immediately. It is often claimed that this is not profitable but ROADEX calculations have shown that ditch clearing in critical places is profitable even when carried out every year.

solutions to the problems of drainage

A regular mistake in ditch clearing operations is that the material excavated from ditch bottom is placed on the inner slope of the ditch, rather than hauling the material away. Experience has shown that this material can very quickly flow back to the ditch bottom and block the water flow again, causing frost heave and deformation in the adjacent road.

solutions to the problems of drainage

If the soil around the side ditches is so unstable and moisture susceptible that ditch clearing is required almost every year, then a special drainage structure should be cnsidered. These structures are mainly made to either a) support the ditch slopes, or b) fill the ditch with free draining material. “Hydroseeding” has also been proven to improve the stability of ditch slopes.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The ROADEX project has been tested a number of new methods to improve the condition of side ditches. One method is to support the inner and outer slopes with coarse material. For this, the old material on the slopes is first removed, after which a geotextile is placed over it and covered with coarse material (about 250mm).

solutions to the problems of drainage

Another method tested was filling the ditch is filled with free draining material. For this a geotextile, a drainage pipe and coarse material are installed in the bottom of the ditch. The drainage pipe and coarse material are wrapped in a geotextile. A layer of coarse aggregates is laid on the inner and outer slopes.

solutions to the problems of drainage

A special feature with side ditches in urban areas is that landowners can fill-in “ugly ditches” in front of their houses with soil and turn it into a lawn. This may look nice but can cause major problems to the condition of the adjacent road. Such issues need be solved case-by-case with the road owner and landowner but, for example, subdrains could be installed if an open ditch is no longer acceptable.

solutions to the problems of drainage

One of the biggest difficulties in the maintenance of side ditches is how to monitor the level of the ditch bottom and how to identify objects that are blocking water flow. Major drainage problems can be detected visually, as the drainage analysis description in the next lesson will show, but finding smaller details from a moving car is almost impossible. For this reason ROADEX is recommending the new technology of laser scanning for detecting changes in ditches. With this technique maintenance contractors in the future will be able to react early to developing problems in the ditch and so prevent further damage to the roads.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Maintenance of outlet ditches

Outlet ditches are often the most problematic parts of the routine maintenance of road drainage systems. They are however highly important parts of the system as they lead water away from the road area. If the outlet ditch is not working well any maintenance efforts with the drainage structures closer to the road may be rendered useless. For this reason the condition of outlet ditches should be checked at 1-2 times / 10 year and always at the start of a new drainage maintenance contract.

Outlet ditches are generally located outside the road area and as a result the land under ditches may not be owned by the road administrator. This can cause difficulties, especially when the outlet ditch is clogged and has to be cleared. This cannot be done in most countries without the permission of the landowner. The solution for this is to change legislation to enable cleaning of clogged outlet ditches.

solutions to the problems of drainage

A special circumstance with outlet ditches is where discharge into a lake that floods. This controls the water level in the ditch. In such cases the easiest solution is to raise the grade line of the road instead of trying to drain the ditch and road structures.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Maintenance of sub drains

Subdrains can be clogged both mechanically and chemically, and regular inspection and clearing is vital to ensure that they continue to adequately function. This work should be strictly specified in the maintenance contract documents. Subdrains that become chemically clogged are almost impossible to re-open, and clearing should be made too often, rather than too seldom.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.2.3. Maintenance problems with culverts

The management of the condition of road culverts in maintenance contracts has often been a challenge mainly because the inspection of a culvert needs first of all, the culvert to be found and then the inspector needs to step out of the car in order to check their quality. This makes culvert monitoring both labour-consuming and expensive, and is why the work is easily ignored until the culvert malfunctions and defects appear in the road condition – by which time it is too late. ROADEX research work in following up maintenance contracts in Finland has shown that the role of frozen and clogged culverts in road damages and reduced pavement life time is much greater than earlier expected. A good system of monitoring culverts always pays back, and new innovations to achieve this should be encouraged.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Main road culverts

solutions to the problems of drainage

The stream velocity in main road culverts is an important factor. If the stream velocity in the culvert is lower than upstream, sand and gravel will be deposited in the culvert and it will be an important maintenance operation to clear the culvert when the amount of material deposited has reached a predetermined level. If this is neglected the culvert will not have sufficient capacity and water will flow across the road surface and into the road structure. This is a traffic safety problem and may also cause erosion and wash out problems.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The inlet of a culvert may also become clogged by branches, mud, gravel, rubbish and other things. The consequences of these blockages are the same as described above.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Transverse culverts can also be exposed to frost problems. If ice clogs the culvert water can flow across the road. This is mainly a problem during early spring, and during the winter in mild weather periods with heavy rainfall.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The incorrect installation and sizing of transverse culverts can also produce difficulties. Culverts can be installed too high, or end up too high as a result of the road settling around the culvert if it has been constructed on a better foundation. This results in water lying in the approach ditches and causes siltation in the bottom of the ditches.

solutions to the problems of drainage

If the length of the culvert is too short, it can easily clog. Ends of short culverts disappear quickly and many times GPR surveys have found buried culverts in the road structure that cannot be seen externally. ROADEX drainage analyses in different countries have also found that transverse culverts have been omitted in some low-lying sites where they should have been installed. Culverts can be damage by time, frost, corrosion, etc and should be repaired or replaced when necessary.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Access road culverts

Recent research results in the ROADEX IV project show that missing or poorly performing access road culverts are one of the biggest problems in the functionality of road drainage systems. For instance, many of the differential frost heave locations on main roads have been shown to be a consequence of the performance of adjacent culverts under private access roads. If the access road culvert is missing, or for other reasons is preventing the water flow in the main road ditch, the water level in the ditch will rise, causing sheet ice to form in winter, and the trapped water in the ditches to infiltrate into the road structures causing further damage in the road. In some cases, as shown in earlier lessons, these clogged or missing culverts can cause erosion to the road and traffic safety risks due to water flow on the road.

5239bb

A frost heave video above made based on laser scanner data from road 934. The measurement was carried out twice, in April when frost heave was at its maximum and in June when the frost was almost entirely gone. The blue color represents the lowest frost heave values and the red colour the highest. Note the large frost heaves near the access roads.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Problems with access road culverts can be divided into four different categories; a) missing culverts, b) too small culverts, c) clogged culverts, d) frozen culverts (already described above) and e) culverts that have been poorly constructed. These cannot be defined as purely the maintenance contractor´s responsibility, and at least some of the work has to be fixed in cooperation with the road owner.

solutions to the problems of drainage

If a culvert is missing the only solution is to provide a new one. Different countries have different views on who is responsible for this construction cost. If the current culvert is too small in diameter it should be replaced with a larger one.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Usually the diameters of access road culverts are smaller than main road culverts and this is one reason for these culverts clogging more regularly than main road culverts. The low water flow velocity in access road culverts makes fine materials easily deposited in the culvert, further blocking the water flow. In Nordic countries the shallow placement of access road culverts, and the low flow velocity of the water through them, also make the culverts susceptible to ice and frost. Ice can clog the culvert and lead to severe road drainage problems when the snow melts during the spring thaw. Well working culverts are particularly needed at this time. Frozen culverts are normally opened using steam, but if the culvert is known to freeze every winter a better solution is to install a thermal cable in the culvert, connected to a solar panel, to ensure the culvert is not totally frozen.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Culverts under junctions to shops, petrol stations and other businesses are usually longer than culverts under access road junctions. These long culverts are more exposed to frost and ice and more difficult to clear of fine soils and debris.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Access road culverts are not always installed correctly by their private access road owner. Where they are installed too high, water in the ditch will not be able to flow through the culvert until such time as the upper ditch has great amounts of trapped water. This trapped water causes instability in the ditch slopes, and soil flow that will eventually block the ditch bottom. The installation of plastic culvert requires special care, as if they are installed too close to the surface (i.e. insufficient cover depth), the culvert can be damaged and lose its shape. Very long culverts are also sensitive to damage. Their ends can rise up and prevent water flow through the culvert.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.2.4. Runoff maintenance, keeping the pavement surface dry

All of the water on the pavement surface should flow away from the road, and not infiltrate to the road structure beneath, to ensure a durable and long lasting pavement. This is achieved by providing a proper crossfall on the pavement surface and by keeping the bituminous pavement water impermeable. In gravel roads the wearing course should be as impermeable as possible, whilst ensuring that it does not turn plastic when it gets wet.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Surface maintenance on a paved road pavement can be done by a) crack sealing and/or b) surface dressing. Crack sealing should be done every year after the spring thaw weakening period when the cracks are still open. Surface dressing is commonly used in Scotland, Ireland and in Norway in maintenance contracts. The surface dressing technique, when properly used, is an excellent method of increasing the lifetime of a pavement, and also ensuring that the pavement friction stays at a good level.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Maintenance contractors cannot do much about changing the crossfall on paved roads, but on gravel roads this can be done by grading the wearing course during the spring and in the fall before the winter. Crossfall on gravel roads can be as high as 5 % and particularly before winter it should be greater than flatter. A good quality gravel road, well compacted and with good crossfalls will ensure that the upper part of the road structures stay dry.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.2.5. Problems with verges

Verges pose a special problem in the management of pavement crossfall. Verges can be divided into grass verges and soil verges. Grass verges are “man made structures” that continue to be built in some areas in Ireland and Scotland even though ROADEX research has shown that they can have an adverse effect on road performance and pavement lifetime. Soil verges, on the other hand, are “unwanted” soil and grass barriers beside the pavement, that arise due to poor maintenance. These prevent water flow from the pavement to the ditches. They have also negative effect on pavement performance. The new ROADEX drainage analysis includes the analysis of any verges present.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Where high grass verges have been built, water is directed away from the pavement using offlets through the verges at regular intervals. ROADEX drainage analyses have shown that the pavement condition can be much better where the offlets are kept clear, but this is not the case in many roads. If offlets are not cleared regularly, surface water on the road is forced to drain through the pavement structure instead of draining to the ditches. This leads to reduced bearing capacity and deformation.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The most sustainable solution to the presence of grass verges is to remove them and replace them with stronger aggregates such as gravel or ballast. ROADEX tests on the B871 road in the Scottish Highlands have shown a major reduction on pavement failures under heavy traffic on sections where this replacement has been done. Also, drainage analyses in Western Isles and in Ireland have shown that the pavement condition is generally much better and lifetime much longer on those road sections where the grass verges have been removed.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Soil verges can be found in all Northern Periphery countries on roads where the soil or turf on the pavement edge grows higher than the asphalt surface. This prevents the surface water flow from the pavement with consequential loss of bearing capacity and deformation. In order to overcome this the ROADEX countries have created a range of maintenance guidelines and regulations. In Norway the verge material must be removed if it is more than 30 mm above the surface. In Sweden the critical limit is 25 mm. Finland does not have a defined limit value for verges, but the guidelines state that a verge has to be monitored if it is too high and is preventing water flow from road to ditch. In practice the limit value in Finland has been 30 mm as in Norway. If the soil verge is too high it is normally removed with a grader.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Soil verges on gravel roads are often bigger problems than on paved roads as the passage of traffic, and grading operations, easily moves road material to the shoulders. Another reason for build-up of soil verges is permanent deformation during the spring thaw weakening period, i.e. the same process that causes road widening. Soil verges should be removed immediately once they have been noticed by the maintenance contractor.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.3. Topography related drainage problems and solutions

In the previous chapter drainage problems were described by each drainage component and this can be a good system to follow in maintenance contracts. In road rehabilitation projects however the designer can, and must, select the most appropriate drainage solution from the range of options available. In this process the best criteria for the selection is to define the surrounding topography around the road and select and design the drainage solution based on this topography classification.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.3.1. Sloping ground

The Northern Periphery area has an abundance of mountains, fjells, hills, fjords and river valleys and as a result a great part of the road networks there have been constructed on sloping ground, where one half of the road is situated in a cutting and the other half of the road is situated on an embankment. In such cases, the groundwater table is normally closer to the road surface (and, as such, to the wheel load) on the road cut side. And because water in road structures is a function of the distance from the groundwater table, the bearing capacity of the road on the road cut side can be much lower compared to that of the embankment side, especially if the drainage is not functioning properly.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The ROADEX drainage research results in the Rovaniemi maintenance area of Finland showed that the condition of the road drainage was mainly worse in side sloping ground compared to other road profiles. Deeper rutting and higher road roughness was also measured on the road cut side of these sections. In road Rv-858 in Troms County area in Norway, the average rut depth for the road cut side was 12.9 mm and for the embankment side 7.9 mm. The ROADEX II drainage report showed that the pavement lifetime ratio between drained lane/undrained lane was more than 2. This has a major economical impact on road condition management costs.

solutions to the problems of drainage

On sloping ground, the ground water will flow under the road if at all possible. But if there is bedrock or impermeable materials near the road area, these objects may block or concentrate the ground water to places where there is a high potential for developing frost heaves, spring thaw softening and reduced bearing capacity due to high moisture content.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Design issues

When designing new drainage, or a drainage improvement, for a road section in side sloping ground the main focus should be to make sure that the drainage will work in the upper side of the road. Many times there will be lack of space and it should be ensured that all slopes are stable and that slope materials do not flow or slide to the ditch. A deep drain is also a good option if there is lack of space. Erosion protection should also be considered in the ditches where the road has a steep longitudinal gradient.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.3.2. Low lying ground

In areas of low ground the natural drainage system for surface water is often poor, or not present, and water has to infiltrate into the subgrade soil. When this soil is frozen, or after a period of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, water can stay on the surface and affect the road. In addition to causing trouble for traffic, the high water table can increase the deterioration of the road. On gravel roads this can soften the road structure and road surface to the extent that the road becomes impassable.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The best way to provide drainage to a road on low lying ground is to raise the grade line of the carriageway. How much, depends on the water table and how severe the problem is. The difference in elevation (height) between the road surface and the water table will depend on the materials used in the construction. If dense graded gravel is used the difference should be at least 50-60 cm. If coarse, well-drained materials are used, the difference should be at least 30-40 cm. When raising the grade line in low lying valleys with weak subgrade soils, such as peat and gytja, stability and differential settlement risks should always be assessed.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Infiltration wells or infiltration ditches may be possible where the subgrade soil is glacial till (moraine). The dimensions of these drainage structures will depend on the permeability of the moraine and how much water accumulates in the local area.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.3.3. Flat areas

Roads crossing flats have similar issues to roads crossing low-lying ground. The long distances to the natural drainage system can make it difficult to get rid of water. This problem is most apparent during the spring thaw when the ground is still frozen and there is a lot of water from melted snow and rainwater. Water that cannot infiltrate into the subsoil can creates large local pools that raise the groundwater table and pose problems for traffic flows.

solutions to the problems of drainage

During periods of heavy rainfall the subsoil may have problems draining the surface water. The extent of the effect will depend on the amount of water involved and the permeability of the subsoil. In any case, the result will be that the groundwater table will rise the consequences of which are described in the previous lessons.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Raising the carriageway grade line is always a good way to handle drainage for roads on flat areas, irrespective of the type of subsoil. It is however sensible to use coarse graded materials that are not susceptible to water. Designing and building outlet ditches are also a solution, but due to the terrain these are likely to be long, deep and expensive, and the reason why they have not already been built!

solutions to the problems of drainage

Where the subsoil is moraine, it is possible to use infiltration ditches or infiltration wells. These will help infiltration in periods when the ground is frozen or when the surface cannot drain the water down to the groundwater table. When the subsoil is peat or soil with low permeability, it is not possible to use infiltration. If excavating ditches is not possible, an alternative solution is to raise the carriageway grade line. Any subsoil materials that are susceptible to settlements and increased load may however result in an uneven finished road surface.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.3.4. Bedrock cuttings

Drainage issues in road cuttings through bedrock relate mainly to differential frost heave and permanent deformation. These may appear if the bedrock cutting does not permit water to drain or if water collects in locations in the cut. Depressions in the bedrock surface can collect water and if there are frost-susceptible materials in the road structure segregation ice and uneven bumps can form in the road surface.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The best solution for drainage in Nordic countries has been to be breaking the bedrock by blasting to a depth of 1-2 m below the top of the blasted bedrock formation. This creates cracks in the bedrock allowing water to drain from the road structure. In colder areas, where the frost front goes deeper, the blasting depth should be deeper.

A good solution has also been to blast ditches, and/or make deep drainage structures, that prevent the water from entering the road structure.

solutions to the problems of drainage

5.4. Special design related problems

5.4.1. design of road structures.

In addition to design problems described earlier there are a few drainage related road design issues, that road engineers often have a tendency to forgot or neglect, that can cause major problems later with road condition. A brief description of these is made in the following:

Inner curves

Permanent deformation problems often occur in the inner curves of road sections. When the road structure is wet and under traffic load, the road structure will soften. A possible reason for this is that roads are dimensioned on the centre line thickness and often the excavated shape is horizontal, with the result that the structure is thinner on the inner curve than elsewhere.

solutions to the problems of drainage

One solution is to dimension the structure at the thinnest point (i.e. the inner curve). This way the road structure will be thick enough everywhere. Another solution is to excavate the formation parallel to the road surface to ensure a constant structure thickness.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Widened roads

Road widenings bring their own considerations. Usually the widenings are constructed incorrectly, such as the bottom of the road structure being excavated horizontal, which causes additional issues for the drainage of the road and road structure.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The road widening should be constructed in such way that the new layers continue the same crossfall angle as the original structure.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Another option to improve the durability of a widened section is to ensure that a layer of free draining material is included within the new structure to provide an effective drainage mechanism for the widening.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Moisture traps

Moisture traps, known also as “sandwich structures” can arise on paved roads where the road has been rehabilitated by laying unbound aggregates directly on top of the old bound layers. In these cases any water that penetrates through the asphalt surface, or unpaved road shoulder or ditch (periods when snow is thawing), will be trapped between the new and old bound layers. The net effect of this will be that the moisture content within the “trap” will increase more than it would for a normal road structure and will be moister for a longer time due to the lack of drainage possibilities. If the moisture content then gets close to the saturation level, dynamic loads from the pavement can cause high hydraulic pressures to develop within the trap causing the pavement above to break.

solutions to the problems of drainage

There are a few solutions to avoid sandwich structures. The old bound layers can be milled and crushed before laying the new unbound course. Experiences in Finland and Sweden have shown that the old pavement should be always be broken if it is closer than 40 cm from the pavement surface.

5.4.2. Slope stability problems

Slope instability and erosion are very common problems on roads, especially in road cuts. Erosion can be caused by surface water, ground water or surface slides. Sensitive soil types for erosion are silt, silt moraine and sand.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Materials from unstable slopes can flow into the roadside ditches and block the water flow and cause the ground water level to rise.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Instability problems can be solved partly by improving the drainage outside the road structure, especially in sections with an abrupt outer slope. One solution is to dig a back drain. Usually the back drain is provided above the cutting slope with the aim of intercepting surface and ground water before it can cause erosion. Water from these ditches must be directed to the natural drainage system.

Reference: Teiden suunnittelu IV, Tien rakenne 4, kuivatus

solutions to the problems of drainage

Another option is to support the slope to make it less unstable. This can be done for example with a gabion wall, rock support or with “hydroseeding”. Hydroseeding and supporting ditch slopes have been discussed earlier in section 5.2.2 “Maintenance problems with side ditches”.

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Dealing with a nasty, returning puddle in a yard can be a real problem for some homeowners. And, no matter what they do, they can’t seem to get ahead of the problem. This guide will highlight some of the most common challenges that arise when dealing with a wet lawn, as well as some potential solutions they can try to dry up their lawn.

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Drainage Solutions for Your Yard, Water Barrel, Garden

It doesn’t matter how beautiful a yard is if there are soggy, wet areas that make it feel unusable. Trekking through the muddy spot will inevitably lead to dirty shoes and socks, and the pests that breed in standing soil will soon swarm in large populations if left unchecked. Despite best efforts, stopping water from pooling in a low spot in the yard can be extremely difficult. You need better drainage—STAT.

Luckily, this guide will highlight some of the most common drainage solutions available to help homeowners dry out their yards and get back to enjoying their outside spaces.

How to Install a French Drain

1. aerate the soil.

Soil gets hard, compacted, and tightens up the more we walk on it, the longer snow sits on top of it every winter, and the more stress a lawn sees. And when a powerful rainstorm comes along under these conditions, the water won’t be able to penetrate the soil, so instead it will pool or wash off into a section of the yard. Aeration can solve this.

Yard aeration is the activity of poking holes into the soil. This does a few things: One, it creates pathways that water and nutrients can take to get to the roots of the grass, promoting a better lawn. It also breaks up soil that’s too compacted to simply drain. There are a number of things you can use to poke the holes including a garden fork, aerator shoes, or a spike aerator.

2. Grade the Yard

If a yard isn’t pitched properly, it can become a huge issue. Ideally, the yard should slope away from the home, and if it doesn’t, it will cause a funnel-like effect, pushing the water back into the home rather than draining it away.

Generally speaking, grading a yard involves adding a few inches of clay-type soil and grading it away from the home to promote better drainage.

3. Dig a French Drain

Sometimes the water that’s causing the issues is coming from a neighboring property or even a poorly pitched street or driveway. In these cases, installing a French drain that prevents the water from flowing into your yard will help keep it dry.

Be prepared: French drains can be a hassle to install. They involve digging a trench, installing a series of perforated pipes, pitching them, and then covering them with a material that drains well, like gravel or crushed stone.

4. Extend Downspouts

Gutters are designed to control the flow of rainwater from the roof to protect your house’s foundation. However, if the gutters don’t’ shuttle the water far enough away from the home, they could be causing drainage issues.

The easiest way to handle this problem is to install gutter downspout extensions . Flexible and extendable, these accordion-type pipes attach directly to your existing downspouts. Homeowners can then divert the water toward other parts of the lawn that drain a bit better.

5. Use Rain Barrels

Another option for controlling the flow from the gutter system is to collect excess water with rain barrels . These basins can be made from real wood or even plastic, and they can be installed at the end of the downspout. Then, every time it rains, the barrel will capture the water rather than letting it pool on the yard’s surface. This also gives homeowners a renewable water source for watering flowers and vegetable gardens .

6. Shift Away from Hardscape Materials

Your hardscape may be contributing to your “wet yard” problem. Bricks and concrete can be great to look at and walk on when installed correctly, but these materials don’t drain. They simply shed water off into the lawn, allowing it to collect on the yard’s surface. Low spots or pockets in the bricks or blocks can hold water themselves, leading to mildew or even pest breeding.

Instead of hardscape materials, you may want to consider switching to materials that drain, such as gravel , pebbles, and other loose materials that allow for comfortable walking while preventing puddles from occurring.

7. Install a Catch Basin

As the gutters collect the rainwater from a roof, it channels down the downspouts and dumps directly out onto the ground. Hopefully, the ground can absorb the water. If not, you’re going to have a soggy yard on your hands. Installing a catch basin below the downspout can be the answer.

How a catch basin works: It’s basically a drum in the ground with pipes attached that allow the water to drain out into the soil, a drain emitter, or to a street drain. These pipes will continue to work regardless of soil compaction or ground saturation.

8. Install a Yard Drain

Yard drains are essentially just floor drains for your yard. These drains can be installed wherever water frequently gathers, collecting the water and redirecting it into any area of the yard that drains well, or a dry well.

Installing a yard drain does require some excavation to accommodate the drain itself and its pipes. Once all the excavated dirt has been backfilled and the grass grows back, only a small drain grid will be visible, making it a great choice for well-maintained lawns with recurring wet spots.

9. Create a Rain Garden

Instead of trying to fight the water, consider using it to your advantage: Building a beautiful rain garden . Rain gardens are simply gardens full of water-loving plants. These plants will appreciate the extra water and grow into an attractive section of the yard rather than just a soggy eyesore no one can walk on. Research your area’s garden zone for species that will tolerate wet conditions, such as native sedges and lady ferns.

10. Dig a Dry well

A dry well can be a great option for capturing and holding water while it drains into the soil. Dry wells are really just barrels dug into the ground and then filled with stones. The stones promote drainage, allowing the water to escape into the soil around the dry well.

Dry wells can be tied into gutter systems, French drains, and other drainage systems. They can also utilize pop-up drain emitters to allow overflowing water to escape during storms, flooding, and other high-water situations.

You Can Transform Your Wet Lawn

In most cases, handling a lawn that refuses to drain is a DIY project. With a little bit of knowledge and the above tips, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of standing water, mud, and even pests that plague your property.

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Garden Drainage - How To Correct Yard Drainage Problems

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Lawn Flooded With Water

Yard drainage problems can wreak havoc on a garden or lawn, especially after a heavy rain. Poor garden or lawn drainage will prevent oxygen from getting to the roots of plants, which kills the roots and also creates an environment perfect for fungus such as root rot  to take hold and further damage a plant. When you take steps to improve soil drainage, you can improve the overall health of your lawn and garden.

Solutions for Yard Drainage Problems

Most minor garden and lawn drainage issues are caused by clay soil. A minor issue will be that you have standing water after a heavy rainfall for less than a day. Clay soil is more dense than sandy or loamy soil, and therefore, is slower to allow rainwater to filter through it. Minor yard drainage problems like this can usually be corrected by taking steps to improve clay soil . For more serious lawn and garden drainage problems, there are several things you can try to improve soil drainage. A more serious drainage issue means that you have standing water after light to moderate rainfall or if the standing water stays for more than a day. These drainage issues can be caused by high water tables, low grading compared to surrounding properties, layers of hard materials (like stone) below the soil and extremely compacted soil . One solution for yard drainage issues is to create an underground drain. The most common underground drain is a French drain, which is essentially a ditch that is filled with gravel and then covered over. Drainage wells are another common underground solution for compacted soil or hard sub-layers that allows the water somewhere to run after rainfall. Another way to improve soil drainage is to build up the soil where you are having the drainage issue or create a berm to redirect the water flow. This works best for garden drainage where specific beds may be getting flooded. Be aware, though, that when you build up a bed, the water will run somewhere else, which may create drainage issues elsewhere. Creating a pond or a rain garden has started to become popular as solutions for yard drainage problems. Both of these solutions not only help collect excess rainwater, but also add a lovely feature to your landscape. Rain barrels are another thing that can be added to help with drainage. Oftentimes, yards that have drainage problems not only have to deal with the rainwater that falls into the yard, but rainwater from nearby buildings as well. Rain barrels can be attached to downspouts and will collect rainwater that would normally run into the yard. This collected rainwater can then be used later when rainfall is low to water your yard. Yard drainage problems do not need to ruin your lawn or garden. When you improve soil drainage or use other solutions for yard drainage, you make it easier for your lawn and garden to grow beautiful.

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12 DIY Yard Drainage Methods

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

solutions to the problems of drainage

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Effective yard drainage is key to keeping not just your yard dry but also your house in good shape. DIY yard drainage methods are mostly inexpensive and simple to implement. The goal is to drain flooded areas of your yard and to prevent water from moving toward the house's foundation. With proper drainage, your home, yard, and everything within the home will remain dry and secure.

Slope the Ground Away From the House

ItchySan / Getty Images

One of the most common fixes for poor drainage is to add dirt and slope it away from the foundation of your house at a 1-inch slope per one foot of horizontal run. Before implementing any other DIY drainage method, this should always be the first one that you consider because it's easy, inexpensive, and effective.

Sloping the grade isn't as simple as tossing down some dirt and smoothing it out with the back of the shovel. Make sure that the top of the slope leaves a minimum of 4 inches between the slope and the bottom of the siding.

Bagged topsoil and mulch, often the choice for perimeter strips around the home, isn't the best type of grading soil because it is permeable and may wash away. Instead, locate within your property (or find elsewhere) a harder, more clay-like soil that packs tightly and helps you better sculpt that slope. Clay-type soil is less permeable, so water will wash down it, not through it.

Replace Hardscapes With Drainage Materials

Eric Audras / Getty Images 

Hardscape exterior materials like concrete and asphalt are great for patios or driveways. They keep you or your vehicle well above wet ground, plus they dry out quickly. But the flip-side is that sometimes they can divert water in the wrong direction. A concrete patio slab tilted toward the house by tree roots will send water cascading to your foundation. Replace hardscape materials with crushed gravel or pea gravel to encourage even drainage.

Install a Rain Barrel

 Groomee / Getty Images

Water from the downspouts can be put to good use instead of being wasted. Build or purchase a rain barrel and place it next to a downspout. By reconfiguring the downspout, you can send water into the barrel—where it collects for later use in gardens.

Certain states regulate rainwater collection and its manner of usage. Check with local restrictions before setting up a rain barrel on your property.

Add a Channel Drain

Construction Photography/Avalon / Contributor / Getty Images

When you have a concrete or asphalt driveway or walkway that sends water in the wrong direction, stop the water in its tracks. Installing a channel drain starts with a narrow trench cut into the concrete or asphalt. Next, a long channel drain is placed in the trench. When water hits the channel drain, it's sent off in another direction, well away from the house or garage.

Install a French Drain

Ivan-Balvan / Getty Images

Surface water that moves across a lawn can be difficult to control, especially if it's originating from off of your property. Fortunately, there is a low-cost way of managing surface water: a French drain. A French drain is a trench filled with permeable materials such as gravel atop a perforated PVC pipe. Water flows through the gravel and into the PVC pipe. The PVC pipe swiftly whisks the water away.

Aerate Your Lawn

Steve Hamilton / Getty Images

Aerating is a common and necessary practice that helps keep your lawn in its best condition. Aeration creates holes in the lawn to introduce air and nutrients, plus it breaks up compacted soil underneath. Aeration also has another benefit: It promotes yard drainage. Rather than pooling up on the lawn, the water trickles down through thousands of holes.

Install a Catch Basin for Yard Drainage

scaliger / Getty Images

When water hits the ground from gutters and downspouts, the worst thing is for it to pool and soak beside your home's foundation . Send that water far away by installing a catch basin at the bottom of every downspout. Water runs into the catch basin and then is taken away by buried PVC pipes to a drain emitter.

Build a Dry Creek Bed

 Eu Toch / Getty Images

A dry creek bed gives you the best of both worlds: function and appearance. Constructed from rocks ranging in size from river rocks to small boulders, a dry creek bed functions as a planned channel for stormwater. Rather than letting nature pick the course, you can do this in advance: into a swale, a catch basin, or to the edge of the property. When it's not busy moving water, a dry creek bed is a beautiful form of xeriscaping for your yard.

Add Downspout Extensions

Robin Gentry / Getty Images

Downspouts run down the side or corner of a house and stop just above the ground. Sometimes a downspout elbow has been added so that the water doesn't drive alongside the foundation . But it's important to move that water even farther away from the home, and adding downspout extensions is the easiest, fastest, and least expensive way to move that water. Clamping these flexible plastic tubes onto the end of the downspout will take the water another four feet away from your house.

Clean and Properly Sized Gutters and Downspouts

Luis Diaz Devesa / Getty Images

When it comes to ground-level yard drainage, one's eye is most often trained on the ground. But good yard drainage also starts from above: up along the roofline with the gutters and down the sides of the house. Make sure that your home has a full set of gutters that are properly sized and that those gutters lead to downspouts. Clean gutters and downspouts at least twice a year.

Create a Yard Drain

Pimonpim Tangosol / Getty Images

Yard drains are built directly into the ground, at places where flooding has previously been identified. Acting much like shower or bathtub drains, yard drains are passive channels for any water that comes their way. They move the water through hidden pipes to a termination point such as a dry well.

Build a Dry Well

John Keeble / Getty Images

A dry well is a large basin filled with rocks that is installed underground. It's a collection point for water, and it works in concert with other yard drainage methods. A dry well is a ready receiver of large amounts of water, which then percolates to the soil around it.

Having good yard drainage is necessary as it will keep too much water away from your home's foundation, which can cause damage over time, and keep the yard itself from being too soggy and wet.

A French drain is a trench that has a perforated PVC pipe with gravel on top of it. Water flows through and goes to the trench's exit point which takes the water to a drainage area or to a dry well.

Putting extensions on your home's downspout works well as it helps by pushing water that comes down from the gutters further away from the house, thus keeping it away from the foundation.

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Top 6 Solutions For Poor Drainage In Your Yard

Water drainage issues such as poor yard grading and landscaping can subsequently lead to more problems on your property. As such, it is crucial to fix these problems before it gets worse. Let us take a look at the following six solutions that are the most common yet most efficient in solving your yard’s drainage problems.

Diverting Water Away

The first solution is to improve the drainage situation by diverting water underground. While water is a necessity in your yard, too much of it can cause damaged roots and create unhealthy growing conditions for the grass. If water collects too close to the house, it may also leak into the basement and cause many other interior issues.

As such, we can consider adding trench grates or french drains as these two types are excellent choices for heavily paved areas - think, your garage or walkway in your garden.

  • Using Trench Grates

Trench drains are concrete-lined channels that help direct water flow while filtering out debris using grates to reduce any form of clogging or blockage. While other types of drains may require water to be redirected to them, a trench drain can stop water in its tracks and get rid of any surface water.

Jonite trench grates

Indeed, trench drains are an artificial addition to your yard that will play a crucial role in channelling stagnant groundwater away from the house and prevent it from seeping indoors. Not only that, trench drains also help ensure that there will not be excess surface water, especially after a heavy rain. This prevents the yard from getting overly damaged.

  • Using A French Drain

To control water flow better, perforated pipes that channel water in a specific direction, also known as french drains, are used. These pipes are usually covered with gravel and rocks to help with filtration and ensure that the pipes are in place. French drains intercept the water flow and convey any surface runoff to a more suitable outlet. In terms of the groundwater, deeper french drains can also be used to drain it.

An example of a french drain

Indeed, french drains are the most common type of drainage system, providing an accessible channel for water to flow through. A general overview of how it works is that the water will run through a gravel-filled trench into the perforated pipe and finally exits a safe distance away from the house to avoid flooding indoors.

  • Installing A Rain Garden

Another alternative to improve the permeability of the soil is to install a rain garden. A rain garden is a heavily planted landscape situated in the path of runoff flow, with permeable soil. This works because during large rainstorms, a runoff will pool on the surface of the rain garden and subsequently soak into the soil. Water is then filtered, and the groundwater is recharged.

For the proper functioning of a rain garden, the initial natural soil will be replaced by a mixture of sand, topsoil and organic compost. Underneath this amended soil, an optional layer of gravel or sand bed would be good so that stormwater stored can eventually seep into the underlying natural soil.

An example of a rain garden

In terms of the sizing of a rain garden, more extensive and deeper rain gardens will be able to treat more surface runoff. On the other hand, smaller and shallower rain gardens will be able to treat less. Still, all rain gardens, regardless of style and size, will be able to reduce the amount of polluted rainwater while helping to recharge the groundwater.

As for the design, rain gardens designed for times of rainfall are usually filled with water-loving plants such as ferns and ornamental mosses that aid in drying out saturated areas. These plants will not only be able to help with drainage issues but also add decoration and colour to the rain garden, increasing its attractiveness.

Do-It-Yourself! Options

Of course, another option is to find ways to combat the unsatisfactory yard grading by ourselves. This will not only improve the drainage situation but also reduce the cost spent on solving it. More often than not, poor grading is the leading cause of flooding or pooling in yards. Such poor grading may result in basement leaks as runoff water flows towards the house. As such, here are some do-it-yourself solutions to counter poor grading:

  • Installing A Sump Pump

A sump pump will collect water and pump it out of your basement before any major water damage is observed.

How a sump pump works

  • Digging A Swale

Although this may require some time and effort, digging a swale will allow water to slope downwards away from the housing estate. The swale should be about three times as wide as it is deep and the base should be levelled to ensure that the water disperses evenly.

An example of a swale

  • Changing The Grading

The most direct alternative is to ensure proper grading on the garden beds. Else, this may attract unwanted pests or cause mildew while causing much damage to the less water-friendly plants. How this change is done is that you can try to get the lawn to slope away from the house to move the water directly to a different location.

Final Thoughts

Being able to solve drainage problems resulting from poor grading or low permeability of the soil in our yard is a learning process. The process of solving these issues teaches us the importance of going the extra mile to protect the environment and our own homes. At the end of the day, it is on our onus to make a difference to the environment we live in and create a more conducive home without having to worry about flooding issues during heavy thunderstorms.

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Solved! Here’s Who to Call for Drainage Problems in the Yard

If you’re confused about who to call for drainage problems in your yard, this guide can help you figure out what the problem is and who can correct it..

By Melissa Graham | Updated Mar 24, 2023 9:49 AM

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Who to Call for Drainage Problems in Yard

Photo: depositphotos.com

Q: I’ve noticed pooling water on my lawn, and I’m worried I have serious drainage issues. Who do I call for drainage problems in my yard?

A: Since pooling water can be indicative of bigger problems in your yard, it’s recommended to call a landscaping professional to diagnose the issue and come up with lawn drainage solutions. A number of issues could lead to drainage problems, including poor soil irrigation, improper grading, or neglected or damaged gutters. While it may be tempting to address the issues yourself, the problem may be more complex than a simple DIY fix. Whatever is causing the issue, it’s wise to have an expert look at it as soon as possible, since pooling water can be a breeding ground for pests such as mosquitoes.

Whether you need backyard drainage or front yard drainage, you won’t need to ask who to call for drainage problems in your yard if you follow this guide and if searching for “yard drainage contractor near me” yields few results.

A professional landscaping contractor can examine your yard to pinpoint the cause of the drainage problems.

Before trying to diagnose yard drainage issues themselves, homeowners will want to have one of the best landscaping companies take a look at their lawn. This way, they don’t get knee-deep in a DIY project that doesn’t address the real problem. These experts have years of experience to help figure out the root of the issue and come up with a plan to eliminate the pooling water or muddy spots in no time. Plus, the landscape drainage project may require specific tools and equipment that makes it a project better left to the pros. If the yard needs to be graded, connected to local drainage systems, or requires the installation of new drains, a homeowner will need the help of a professional landscaping contractor.

Who to Call for Drainage Problems in Yard

Drainage problems may be caused by improper grading or poor soil irrigation, which requires the expertise of a landscaping professional.

A number of problems could result in drainage problems in a yard, from improper grading to poor soil irrigation. If a homeowner notices pooling at the base of their house, low spots, ruts, or slightly raised areas, these can all be signs that they’re dealing with improper grading. To solve this issue, yard drainage contractors will regrade the lawn by removing soil from raised areas and adding and compacting soil in low areas. Poor soil irrigation may be the cause of broken or unbalanced sprinkler heads or leaks. A landscaping professional can help determine if all the sprinklers are in working order and spaced appropriately so that the entire yard gets equal coverage. Soil irrigation issues can also be solved by putting in more absorbent soil, aerating the lawn so that it absorbs water more efficiently, or putting in an underground drainage system.

A landscaping professional may suggest a more extensive fix, such as a dry well or a French drain. A dry well is commonly used to prevent flooding from sudden storm water or gray water, which is the runoff that comes from things like the washing machine or bath tub. Dry wells give water a hidden place to go, leaving the yard puddle-free. A French drain diverts water through an underground pipe to a curbside storm drain, again preventing water from pooling in the yard. Installing a French drain costs an average of $5,000 but can be well worth the expense if it helps correct the yard’s draining issues.

Who to Call for Drainage Problems in Yard

An old or neglected gutter system can cause water to pool close to your house and can require the services of a roofing or gutter professional.

The good news about having outdated or worn-down gutters is that the problem is generally easy to spot and fix. If a homeowner owns a tall enough ladder, they can check their gutters to see if they’re clogged, sagging, or have bad seams or joints that are causing leaks. If any of these issues are present, it’s an easy enough task for a homeowner to handle on their own. But if the homeowner is afraid of heights or finds that the damage is more severe than they expected, they will likely need to call one of the best roofing companies or the best gutter cleaning services who can correct the issues. A professional can perform routine maintenance that will help water drain more easily, or if the home needs new gutters, the pro can install them properly and advise the homeowner on which type works best for their home. A homeowner can also have their downspouts extended farther beyond landscaping around the home to prevent water pooling in the future.

For extreme drainage problems, your water company or local government may be able to provide assistance.

If the drainage issues are the result of a sewer problem, a homeowner’s local water company may be able to help if there’s a blockage that lies on the city’s side of the yard . This would occur where the sewer line connects to the municipal sewer system. The homeowner’s local government may also be able to provide assistance if tree roots infiltrate the sewer lines in their yard, causing a leak or other drainage issues. If this requires the work of a plumber or landscaping professional, the city may be able to cover the costs or reimburse the homeowner if they present them with a copy of the bill.

If a homeowner has already called a landscaping professional and they’ve suggested drainage ideas for the backyard that haven’t solved the issue, the homeowner may have an extreme drainage case that requires the help of the water company or local government. It’s worth a homeowner giving them a call to see if they can provide assistance or suggest another local yard drainage contractor.

Who to Call for Drainage Problems in Yard

In general, a landscaping professional can help solve most yard drainage problems.

There’s a chance that the drainage problems in a yard are too complicated to tackle solo and require the help of a landscaping professional who has yard drainage solutions. Plus, a homeowner may not have the time or resources to provide backyard drainage solutions, if that’s where the issue is located. In short, if a homeowner’s search history reads “yard drainage specialist near me,” an expert landscaper can get their yard in tip-top shape and prevent additional pooling from occurring. They may need to install a French drain, which redirects water discreetly, or they may need to secure permits to hook the drainage pipes or trenches to municipal storm drainage. In short, if a homeowner is in need of water drainage solutions, calling a landscaping professional is the best place to start.

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Understanding Drainage Problems: Signs and Solutions for Your Home

by tylorBennett | Nov 21, 2023 | Home Improvement and Maintenance | 0 comments

Broken gutter downspout

Drainage problems can wreak havoc on your property, causing a range of issues both inside and outside of your home. Recognizing the signs of drainage problems is crucial to addressing them promptly and preventing further damage. In this article, we will explore common signs of drainage problems, their causes, and effective solutions to tackle them.

Signs of Drainage Problems

Signs of exterior drainage problems.

One of the first signs of exterior drainage problems is standing water in your yard. If you notice puddles that take a long time to dissipate after rainfall, it could indicate poor drainage. Causes of standing water include improper slope or grading, compacted soil, or the presence of underground obstacles like tree roots. If left unaddressed, standing water can not only damage your landscaping but also create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and lead to structural issues.

Erosion or soggy soil is another indication of exterior drainage problems. When water consistently accumulates near your foundation or in specific areas of your yard, it can cause erosion or leave the soil perpetually damp. This can undermine the stability of your landscape features and compromise the integrity of your structures.

Mold or mildew growth on the exterior surfaces of your home can be a direct result of poor drainage. Excessive moisture can seep into the walls, providing an ideal environment for mold and mildew to thrive. The presence of mold not only damages your property but can also pose health risks to you and your family.

Signs of Interior Drainage Problems

Interior drainage problems might manifest in various ways. Damp or musty odors are often indicators of water accumulation within your home. If you notice these odors, it is essential to investigate and address the underlying cause promptly. Accumulated moisture can damage building materials, leading to structural issues and potential mold growth.

Water stains or discoloration on walls or ceilings suggest leaks or seepage. If left unchecked, these issues can lead to significant damage and compromise the structural integrity of your home. Taking immediate action when you notice water stains is crucial to prevent further deterioration.

Cracked or peeling paint can also be a sign of interior drainage problems. When water infiltrates the walls, it can cause the paint to crack or peel off. This not only affects the aesthetic appeal of your home but can also indicate deeper issues with water infiltration and potential structural consequences.

Common Causes of Drainage Problems

Understanding the common causes of drainage problems is fundamental to effectively address them.

Slope or Grading Issues

Improper landscaping and grading can contribute to drainage problems. If your yard has uneven ground levels or inadequate sloping away from your house, water might accumulate in certain areas, leading to drainage issues. Additionally, the accumulation of debris can obstruct the flow of water, overwhelming your drainage system.

Faulty Gutters and Downspouts

Clogged gutters can hinder the diversion of water away from your home. When leaves, twigs, and other debris accumulate in the gutters, water cannot flow freely, potentially leading to damage to your roof and the walls of your house. Inadequate downspouts can also pose problems, as they may not discharge a sufficient amount of water, causing overflow issues.

Foundation or Landscaping Factors

If your foundation has cracks, it can impede the proper flow of water away from your home. These cracks act as pathways for water to infiltrate the structure, potentially leading to foundational issues if not addressed promptly. Additionally, insufficient landscaping techniques, such as the lack of proper channeling methods, can have a negative impact on your drainage system’s functionality.

Effective Solutions for Drainage Problems

When faced with drainage problems, it is crucial to implement effective solutions to prevent further damage and ensure the longevity of your property.

Improve Yard Grading and Landscaping

Hiring a professional landscaper is an excellent investment in addressing drainage issues. They can evaluate your yard’s slope and suggest adjustments to ensure proper water flow away from your home. Additionally, the installation of French drains or swales can effectively redirect water and alleviate drainage problems. Effortless maintenance practices, such as regularly removing debris or blockages and monitoring water flow patterns, can help prevent future issues.

Enhance Gutter and Downspout Systems

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your gutters and downspouts are essential for effective water diversion. Clearing debris from gutters and downspouts ensures that water can flow freely and prevents potential damage to your roof and walls. Another option is installing gutter guards or screens to prevent clogs and blockages, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.

Repair and Waterproof the Foundation

If your foundation has cracks or weaknesses, it is essential to seek professional assessment and repairs. Identifying and addressing foundation issues can significantly improve water flow and prevent further damage to your property. Additionally, applying waterproofing measures, such as sealants and coatings, can provide an added layer of protection. Implementing an exterior drainage system can also help redirect water away from your foundation, safeguarding its integrity.

In conclusion, recognizing the signs of drainage problems and understanding their causes are crucial steps towards effectively resolving them. By addressing these issues promptly and implementing the appropriate solutions, you can protect your property from the damaging effects of poor drainage. If you are facing drainage problems and need professional assistance, Perma Dry Waterproofing is here to help.

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4 Ways To Solve Drainage Problems

  • Posted by Allentuck Landscaping
  • June 5, 2018
  • Filed under Blog

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Drainage Problems and Solutions To Fix Them

drainage problems

Solving drainage problems usually comes down to a few simple rules. Water always runs downhill and water will always find the easiest way to get to where it is going. The key to solving drainage problems usually comes in facilitating those two rule.

There is no one magical way to solve most drainage problems. The solution usually involves a combination of the following methods.

Grading For Results

Making sure water can move away from a house or out of a low area is a good starting point. Remember the rules above; water always travels downhill. Creating slope away from a home makes sure that water moves away from it. Adding quality soil against the foundation can solve this. It may be necessary to temporarily lift and set aside existing plants, or, an opportunity to re-landscape the foundation. Making sure patios and other hardscape surface also slope away from the house is also important.

Downspout Pipes

There is a lot of water that is shed off a roof in a rainstorm. It is funneled into the gutters and then down the downspouts. Connecting underground pipes to the downspouts and daylighting them far from the foundation prevents a lot of water from ever coming in contact with the foundation. A little caution; water flow out of the pipe can cause erosion or even accidently flood your neighbor’s property. Use good judgement when deciding where the pipe will exit and consider using a pop-up emitter to help dissipate the outflow.

French Drains and Flow Wells

Sometimes there is just nowhere for the water to go. Low areas and depressions present a unique challenge to solving a drainage problem. The solution is to remove the water from the surface and help the water soak into the ground. French Drains and Flow-Wells are essentially gravel trenches or pits constructed just under the surface to act as holding areas for excess water. The water soaks through the ground surface into these areas until it can permeate further into the ground.

Create A Dry Stream

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and the best solution is to just help what is happening naturally. Water always finds its path down a hill and along the way it can cause erosion and rutting. One of the best ways, and possibly most attractive, is to create a dry stream. A dry stream is created by using gravels, rocks and boulders to line the path that water follows. Occasionally some excavation is necessary to make this path more efficient. A dry stream is also an opportunity to introduce interesting plants into the landscape.

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At Allentuck Landscaping Company, our mission is to create beautiful environments for people to enjoy. We see landscaping as a way to improve people’s lives.

The Allentuck Landscaping Company team has been a leading landscape company in Montgomery County, Maryland for over 28 years with our turnkey approach to landscape design, installation, construction and maintenance. Most companies try to serve many types of customers at the same time; homeowners, shopping centers, office buildings and the list goes on. At Allentuck Landscaping Co., we focus on one customer, you, the homeowner. We have a singular focus on bringing you the best landscape practices, the best customer service, and the best value for your home.

Services Provide – Master Landscape Plans, Complete Maintenance Programs, Plantings, Patios, Walkways, Retaining Walls, Water Features, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor Kitchens, Trellises & Pergolas, Irrigation Systems, Drainage Solutions, Grading & Sodding. Fire Pits & Fire Places, Spring Clean Ups, Decks, Fences, Mosquito & Tick Control, Deer Control.

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Frustrated by lawn drainage issues you can’t fix? Here are 4 solutions

Kiera Baron

For home gardeners and homeowners around the world, the lawn is one of the most valued pieces of their property. A healthy lawn lends itself to a beautiful landscape around your home, enhancing your gardens and creating an outdoor space you want to spend time in. Unfortunately, though, it’s very easy for lawns to have pools of water, patches of mud, and swampy spots due to poor drainage. And if you want a healthy yard and a happy home, it’s a problem that needs to be corrected.

What causes poor lawn drainage?

  • First thing’s first: Change your watering schedule

Install a bigger downspout

Replace walkways and patios, dig a man-made creek, making sure your lawn continues to drain.

In most homes, you’ll notice that the yards have natural slopes, high points and low points, and decks or patios constructed for outdoor spaces. Along with these, there are a couple of other factors that can affect how well or how poorly your lawn drains:

  • A short downspout. For homes with rain gutter systems, a downspout that points directly into a garden bed or other point in your lawn will cause excess water to collect rather than drain as intended.
  • Erosion caused by runoff. Over time, your downspout can chip away at the topsoil in your yard, potentially causing a collection of water in the eroded area.
  • Impacted soil. Soil that has been affected by construction projects, like larger patios or in-ground pools, can retain moisture and take longer to drain.
  • Patios and walkways. Patios and walkways, especially those made from concrete, can potentially block off the water and prevent it from draining where it needs to.
  • Yard slope. In many cases, the slope of your yard plays a big factor. If it’s too flat, or if there’s a low point, water can easily collect and be unable to drain properly.

How do I fix bad drainage in my lawn?

The solution to poor lawn drainage largely depends on the problem you’re dealing with. First, you should identify the symptoms you’re noticing in your yard (pooling water, mushy soil, mud, things of that nature) to figure out the possible cause. Just make sure that whichever solution you try first, you research and make sure that you have the best tools on hand for the job. (No one wants to be knee-deep in mud only to find out they have to make a run to a hardware store.)

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First thing’s first: Change your watering schedule

Fixing poor lawn drainage could be as easy as adjusting when and how you water your lawn or plants. If you have your sprinklers set to an automated schedule, try turning them off for a bit to see how your yard fares. If the problem areas start to drain, chances are you’re just giving your lawn a bit too much to drink and need to cut back on the frequency so that the soil has time and room to get rid of excess water.

If the spots don’t drain (or if you just don’t water your lawn), you’ll need a different solution to fix the problem.

In the cases of water pooling under your downspout, your solution could be as simple as installing a larger one or extending your current one. Gutter systems are essential for removing excess moisture from the roof of your home, so setting it up in a way that doesn’t harm your lawn is ideal.

When you go to extend your downspout, be sure to identify a properly draining area (like a storm drain) before choosing which way to divert the water. The last thing you want is to send all the water that was pooling in your garden to a low spot in your yard and create an entirely other drainage problem.

Walkway and patio flooding is perhaps one of the saddest causes, as most homeowners with these features spend a lot of time selecting just the right materials to use to achieve the look they’re going for. If you find that there’s water collection on your patio or in front of your walkway, chances are they’re inhibiting drainage and blocking runoff.

To fix the problem, you can:

  • Replace the existing patios or walkways with stepping stones or another material with spaces between so that water can move through the path.
  • Replace a specific problem area with a different material that water can move through.

The benefit to the latter is that it’s more cost-effective — you won’t be shelling out money to replace an entire feature in your yard; however, you may not be able to find something that still looks cohesive. If you have the funds and think the patio or walkway may be blocking drainage, it may be best to redo the entire thing if you’re worried about the overall aesthetic.

Alternatively, you can install a catch basin

That said, you can also install a catch basin under the patio or walkways and a grate for the water to drain through. If you like the look of the materials you have and don’t want to pick out new ones, this can be a feasible option. Keep in mind, though, that this does involve installing an underground drain and can be more labor-intensive and costly than replacing the materials for your paths.

In some cases, you may find yourself needing to dig out a man-made creek in your yard to solve soggy areas in low spots. The thing to keep in mind for this solution is that you need to have a good downward slope from that area for it to work — the water can’t flow upward. If you do have that angle, though, gather the tools you need to dig a trench and start building.

The neat thing about this solution is that, since you’ll be filling the bed of the creek with gravel or other decorative stones, it can double as a landscaping feature. During rainy seasons, it serves as drainage for your yard; in off-seasons, you can create a creek to run through it for an attractive water feature.

Or make a rain garden

Some yards don’t have enough space or the right slope to dig out a man-made creek for water to drain through. If that’s the case for you, you can always try making your own rain garden. These usually act as a beautiful addition to your landscape, as they’re filled with water-loving plants like ferns, hostas, and ornamental mosses.

Although this option doesn’t necessarily solve poor drainage, it does introduce things to the environment that can help absorb some of the excess water. In most cases, a rain garden will drain the water within a day, and it’s much more appealing to look at than a patch of soaked grass. And even better, if you have the room for a man-made creek, you can build a rain garden at the end of it to enhance the space.

The best way to make sure your yard is draining (and continues to drain) properly is to check on it often. Once you’ve tried a solution, let it sit until the next rainstorm or two and see how it does. You’ll be able to monitor how well it’s working, see if there’s anything that needs to be adjusted, and try a different solution if the problem isn’t fully solved.

Lawn drainage can be very finicky to solve, especially if you aren’t sure what the cause is right away. But for the most part, it’s something you can handle yourself so long as you have the right tools and some friends or family willing to help with the job.

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  • Lawn & Grass

Kiera Baron

While looking for the perfect grass to plant in your yard, you might get confused about the best option. So today, we'll go over zoysia grass vs. Bermuda grass and see which is the better choice between these two popular types of grass. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about each.

What you should know about zoysia grass Native to Asia, zoysia grass was introduced to the United States in 1895. This type of grass actively grows during the warm season, starting in early spring. Zoysia grass stays a light to medium green color in its active growing season. When winter comes around, the grass turns brown, but it does this much later in the season than Bermuda grass. Zoysia grass is also one of the first grasses to turn green again once warmer temperatures appear. Dense growth ideal for lawn games If you do a lot of outside entertaining or lawn games, you might consider adding this grass to your property. The densely grown plant holds up well under heavy use, so you don't have bald or muddy spots. Zoysia grass is heat and drought tolerant, and the dense growth pattern means it stands up well under heavy foot traffic. Additionally, its thick growth pattern makes it hard for weeds to penetrate it once it has been established. This natural weed barrier means you'll spend less time and money preventing and getting rid of weeds. Low-maintenance grass Zoysia grass is also a low-maintenance plant that needs very little from you. Since it's drought and heat tolerant, there's no need for extra watering during the hot summer months. Zoysia grass might turn a bit brown when it gets hot, but it will green up quickly once it rains again. This grass prefers full sun but can handle partial shade — all of these qualities make it ideal for southern states.  The perfect option for transitional climates There's a section in the United States that grass experts call the transition area. This area is too hot for some grasses and too cold for others, so it can be hard to find grass that's just right for your specific climate needs. However, zoysia grass is the perfect solution. While this grass is ideal for hot climates and handles the south's heat well, it's also tolerant of cold temperatures. This makes it perfect for transition areas where other grasses might struggle.  Slow to establish There are a lot of benefits to growing the zoysia grass variety in your yard, but there are a few other things to consider before taking the leap. For example, this type of grass takes longer to establish than other grasses. The slow-growing quality might not be ideal if you're looking for a quick fix for that bald patch in your yard where the kids had a slip and slide last summer.

If you haven't been shopping for a new lawnmower lately, you may be surprised by the number of options available. Home improvement and hardware stores stock a vast array of gas-powered, corded electric, cordless electric, and manual push mowers, any one of which could be a great choice ... or a poor choice. So how do you know which is the best?

Manual push vs. gas-powered vs. electric mowers Priorities matter. Are you looking for power, economy, low emissions, or quiet operation? Or is there a whole other criterion of utmost importance to you? Most modern mowers include great options that can help keep your yard looking its best for a decade or more, but there are some important factors to keep in mind for all of them. Before picking out your new mower, you'll need to understand the cost of each (both upfront and in terms of maintenance in years to come), the level of maintenance that will be required for each mower, how long the mower will last, how easy the mower is to maneuver, and the motor power each is able to offer.

Buffalo grass, Bouteloua dactyloides, is a North American prairie grass, native to the high plains of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It also makes a tough, low-maintenance lawn grass. If you’re looking for a sustainable alternative to traditional ornamental lawn grasses, it could be a good option.

What is buffalo grass? Buffalo grass evolved in a climate with hot summers, bitterly cold winters, and an annual rainfall average of 15 to 30 inches. It is a co-dominant species, along with blue grama, in the shortgrass prairie ecosystem and also has an important presence in mixed grass prairies. Throughout the arid west, bison, jackrabbits, prairie dogs, pronghorns, and white-tailed deer use it as forage. It’s also a larval host plant for green skipper butterflies.

Drainage Problems And Solutions

Oct 1, 2018 | Drain

Four Most Common Residential Drainage Problems and Solutions

How do you know if you have drainage problems, the top four most common drainage solutions are:, 1. surface drainage, 2. positive flow subsurface drains, 3. subterranean leach field drains (common misnomer “french drain”), 4. high water table.

Whether you are building new construction or have an established landscape, drainage solutions are essential to the health and beauty of your property. Contact DSLD Land Management in Birmingham, Alabama for more information about drainage solutions or to set up a consultation.

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Home > Home Maintenance > Solving Drainage Issues On A Sloped Yard Toward The House

Solving Drainage Issues On A Sloped Yard Toward The House

  • Home Maintenance

Solving Drainage Issues On A Sloped Yard Toward The House

Modified: December 8, 2023

Written by: Samuel Turner

Looking for expert home maintenance tips to tackle drainage issues on your sloped yard? We have the solutions you need to prevent water from flowing towards your house

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(Many of the links in this article redirect to a specific reviewed product. Your purchase of these products through affiliate links helps to generate commission for Storables.com, at no extra cost. Learn more )

  • Introduction

Welcome to the world of home maintenance! Taking care of your home requires knowledge and understanding of various aspects, including drainage. One common issue that homeowners often face is dealing with drainage problems on a sloped yard, particularly when the water flows towards the house. These drainage issues can lead to water damage, foundation problems, and even potential health hazards.

Understanding the causes of drainage issues and learning how to solve them is essential for maintaining a dry and structurally sound home. In this article, we will delve into the world of sloped yards and explore effective solutions to tackle drainage problems. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a homeowner looking for professional guidance, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques needed to address drainage issues and protect your home.

Read more : Whom To Call For Drainage Issues Around House

  • Understanding the Drainage Problem

Before jumping into the solutions, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the drainage problem you’re facing. In the case of a sloped yard with water flowing towards the house, it’s essential to determine why this is happening and what factors are contributing to the issue.

One common cause of drainage problems on a sloped yard is improper grading. Grading refers to the slope or level of the ground, and ideally, the ground around your home should slope away from the foundation. If the grading is incorrect, water will naturally flow towards the house instead of away from it, leading to pooling water and potential water damage.

Another factor to consider is the soil type in your yard. Different soil types have varying levels of water absorption and drainage capabilities. If your soil is compacted or composed of heavy clay, it may not drain water effectively, exacerbating the drainage problem.

Additionally, the presence of hard surfaces such as driveways, patios, or walkways can contribute to drainage issues. These surfaces typically don’t absorb water, causing it to flow towards the house instead of soaking into the ground.

Understanding the specific factors contributing to your drainage problem will help you make informed decisions when choosing the most suitable solutions. It’s also worth noting that more than one issue may be at play, so it’s important to assess the entire situation rather than relying on a single solution.

  • Assessing the Sloped Yard

Once you have a good understanding of the drainage problem, the next step is to assess your sloped yard to determine the extent of the issue and the best course of action. This assessment will help you identify specific areas of concern and prioritize the solutions accordingly.

Start by observing the flow of water on your sloped yard during rainfall or after watering. Take note of any pooling water, areas where water channels or erodes the soil, or areas where water accumulates near the foundation.

Next, examine the soil composition in different sections of your yard. Check for signs of compacted soil, which may prevent water from draining properly. In addition, observe the presence of rocks or debris that could impede water flow.

Another crucial aspect of the assessment is to consider the landscaping and vegetation in your yard. Certain plants or trees could contribute to the drainage problem by absorbing excessive water or blocking the natural flow of water. Take note of any areas where the landscaping may need adjustment to improve drainage.

Additionally, it’s important to evaluate the condition of your existing drainage systems, such as gutters and downspouts. Make sure they are clear of debris and functioning properly to divert water away from the house.

By thoroughly assessing your sloped yard, you can pinpoint the specific areas that require attention and determine which solutions will be most effective in addressing the drainage problem. Remember to take detailed notes and even consider taking photographs to reference throughout the process.

  • Identifying Potential Causes

Identifying the potential causes of drainage issues on a sloped yard is crucial for implementing the most effective solutions. By understanding the underlying causes, you can address them directly and prevent future problems from arising.

One common cause of drainage problems is improper grading. If the slope of your yard is directed towards the house, water will naturally flow in that direction. This can occur due to poor initial landscaping or changes in the ground’s slope over time. To rectify this issue, you may need to regrade your yard to create a proper slope away from the house.

Another possible cause of drainage problems is the presence of compacted or heavy clay soil. These soil types have limited permeability, making it difficult for water to drain effectively. The lack of drainage can lead to water pooling on the surface or seeping into the foundation. Adding amendments to the soil or implementing specific drainage solutions can improve the overall drainage in these areas.

Hard surfaces such as driveways, patios, or walkways can also contribute to drainage issues. These surfaces prevent water from being absorbed into the ground, causing it to flow towards the house. Creating proper drainage channels or installing permeable pavers can help redirect the water away from the house and into suitable drainage areas.

Additionally, landscaping features such as decorative ponds or improperly placed shrubs and trees can disrupt the natural flow of water. These features may need to be adjusted or supplemented with proper drainage solutions to ensure water is not accumulating near the house.

By identifying and addressing the potential causes of drainage issues, you can take proactive steps to correct the problem and prevent further complications. Consult with a professional if you’re unsure about the specific causes in your situation, as their expertise can help you determine the best course of action.

  • Choosing the Right Drainage Solutions

When it comes to solving drainage problems on a sloped yard, choosing the right drainage solutions is essential for long-term success. There are several methods available, each with its own advantages and considerations. Understanding the specific needs of your yard and the underlying causes of the drainage issue will help you make an informed decision.

One effective drainage solution is the installation of a French drain system. A French drain is a trench filled with perforated pipes and gravel that redirects water away from the problem area. It’s particularly useful for addressing water accumulation near the foundation or in low-lying areas of the yard. Installing a French drain can effectively capture and channel the water away, preventing it from causing damage to your home.

Another popular option is the creation of a swale. A swale is a shallow, graded ditch that slopes away from the house, guiding water along a designated path. It can be filled with gravel or lined with plants to enhance its aesthetic appeal while effectively carrying away excess water. Swales are especially useful for addressing surface runoff and can be incorporated into the landscape design.

For areas where erosion is a concern, building a retaining wall can be an effective solution. Retaining walls not only prevent erosion but also help redirect water away from the house. They can be constructed using various materials, such as concrete blocks, stone, or timber, depending on your preference and the desired aesthetic.

Another drainage solution involves redirecting downspouts. Ensure that your downspouts are extended to carry water at least six feet away from the foundation. This will prevent water from accumulating near the house and causing potential damage.

In some cases, the simple act of implementing proper grading techniques can significantly improve drainage. By adjusting the slope of your yard, you can create a natural flow of water away from the house. This may involve adding or removing soil or reshaping the existing landscape.

Lastly, planting suitable vegetation can contribute to better drainage. Certain plant species, such as native grasses and shrubs, have deep root systems that increase soil permeability and reduce water runoff. They also help stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

Consider consulting with a professional to assess your specific drainage needs and determine the most appropriate solutions for your sloped yard. They can provide expert advice and guidance to ensure the chosen drainage solutions are suitable for your property.

Read more : How To Slope Drainage From Your House

  • Installing a French Drain System

A French drain system is an effective solution for addressing drainage issues on a sloped yard. It helps to redirect water away from problem areas and prevent water from pooling near the foundation. Installing a French drain involves the following steps:

  • Plan and design: Assess the areas where water accumulates and determine the best route for the French drain. Take into consideration any obstacles such as existing landscaping or underground utilities.
  • Mark the trench: Once the route is determined, mark the trench where the French drain will be installed. The trench should be deep enough to accommodate the perforated drainage pipe and wide enough to allow for proper drainage.
  • Excavate the trench: Use a shovel or a trenching machine to dig the trench along the marked path. The trench should slope downward, away from the problem area, to ensure proper water flow.
  • Add gravel: Place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the trench to create a stable base for the drainage pipe. This will also allow for better water absorption and filtration.
  • Install the perforated pipe: Lay the perforated drainage pipe on top of the gravel, ensuring that the perforations face downwards. The pipe should be positioned with a slight slope to facilitate water flow.
  • Cover with gravel: Surround the drainage pipe with additional gravel, making sure to fill the trench completely. The gravel acts as a filter and provides a path for water to enter the pipe.
  • Protect with landscape fabric: To prevent sediment and debris from clogging the drainage pipe, cover the gravel with landscape fabric before backfilling the trench. This will allow water to flow through while preventing soil from entering the system.
  • Backfill the trench: Fill the remaining space in the trench with soil, compacting it gently as you go. Ensure that the slope away from the problem area is maintained.
  • Redirect the outlet: The endpoint of the French drain should be directed away from the house, preferably towards a natural drainage area or a designated runoff location.
  • Maintain and monitor: Regularly inspect the French drain system to ensure it remains free of debris and functioning properly. Clear any blockages and monitor for any signs of water pooling or inadequate drainage.

Installing a French drain system requires careful planning and attention to detail. If you’re unsure about any step of the process, it’s recommended to consult with a professional to ensure the proper installation and functionality of the system.

  • Creating a Swale

Creating a swale is an effective solution for addressing drainage issues on a sloped yard. A swale is a shallow, graded ditch that helps redirect water away from problem areas and prevents surface runoff. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a swale:

  • Assess the flow of water: Observe the natural flow of water on your sloped yard during rainfall or after watering. Identify the areas where water accumulates or flows towards the house.
  • Determine the route: Based on your assessment, determine the best route for the swale. It should follow the natural slope of the yard and direct water away from the problem areas.
  • Mark the swale: Use stakes and string to mark the path of the swale. Make sure it has a gentle slope, allowing water to flow freely along the designated route.
  • Excavate the swale: With a shovel or a trenching machine, dig the swale along the marked path. The depth and width of the swale will depend on the amount of water flow and the size of your yard.
  • Shape the swale: Once the trench is dug, shape the bottom of the swale to have a gentle slope. This will aid in proper water flow and prevent water from pooling.
  • Smooth the edges: Use the shovel to smooth out the edges of the swale, ensuring a gradual transition from the swale to the surrounding ground.
  • Add gravel: Place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the swale to help with filtration and drainage. This will allow water to seep into the ground more effectively.
  • Plant vegetation: Consider planting vegetation along the sides of the swale, such as grasses or native plants with deep root systems. These plants will help stabilize the soil, enhance water absorption, and add visual appeal to your landscape.
  • Monitor and maintain: Regularly inspect the swale to ensure it remains clear of debris and functioning properly. Remove any obstructions and monitor the water flow during rainfall to ensure the swale is effectively diverting water away from problem areas.

Creating a swale provides a natural and visually appealing solution for managing water flow on a sloped yard. If you’re unsure about the proper design or execution of a swale, consult with a professional to ensure its effectiveness and compatibility with your landscape.

  • Building a Retaining Wall

Building a retaining wall is a practical solution for addressing drainage issues on a sloped yard. A retaining wall not only helps prevent erosion but also redirects water away from problem areas. Follow these steps to build a retaining wall:

  • Determine the location: Identify the area where the retaining wall is needed. Consider factors such as the slope of the yard, the amount of water flow, and any potential impact on existing structures or landscaping.
  • Plan and design: Sketch out your retaining wall design, taking into consideration the height, length, and materials to be used. Check with local building codes and regulations to ensure compliance.
  • Excavate the area: Dig a trench for the foundation of the wall. The depth and width of the trench will depend on the size and height of the wall. Make sure to also include a proper drainage system behind the wall.
  • Prepare the foundation: Compact the soil in the trench and add a layer of gravel for proper drainage. Use a level to ensure the foundation is even and sloped away from the problem area.
  • Build the first row: Lay the first row of blocks or stones, using a level to ensure they are straight and level. Check for proper alignment and adjust as needed.
  • Add subsequent rows: Continue building the retaining wall by adding subsequent rows of blocks or stones, staggering the joints for stability. Use a mallet or rubber mallet to secure the blocks in place.
  • Backfill and compact: As you progress, backfill the space behind the wall with gravel or drainage material. Compact the backfill periodically to ensure stability and proper drainage.
  • Consider drainage options: Depending on the height and location of the retaining wall, you may need to install drainage pipes or weep holes to redirect water away from the wall and prevent pressure buildup.
  • Finishing touches: Once the retaining wall is built, add any finishing touches such as capstones or a decorative facade to enhance the aesthetic appeal.
  • Maintain and monitor: Regularly inspect the retaining wall for signs of shifting, cracks, or erosion. Address any maintenance needs promptly to ensure the integrity of the wall and its effectiveness in redirecting water.

Building a retaining wall requires careful planning and construction to ensure its durability and effectiveness. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, consider consulting with a professional to help you design and build a retaining wall that suits your needs.

  • Redirecting Downspouts

Redirecting downspouts is a simple yet effective solution for addressing drainage issues on a sloped yard. By ensuring that water from your gutters is properly channeled away from the house, you can prevent water from accumulating and causing damage. Follow these steps to redirect your downspouts:

  • Assess the current downspout placement: Evaluate the location of your downspouts and observe where the water is being directed. Determine if the water is flowing towards the house or if it’s being effectively diverted away.
  • Identify the ideal redirection path: Determine the best route for redirecting the water away from the house. This can be towards a natural drainage area or a designated runoff location, such as a dry well or a swale.
  • Extend the downspouts: Purchase downspout extensions or diverters from a local hardware store. These are typically flexible extensions that attach to the existing downspout and can be adjusted to redirect the water flow.
  • Attach the extensions: Install the downspout extensions to the existing downspouts and adjust them so that the water flows in the desired direction. Ensure that the extensions are securely fastened to prevent them from getting detached during heavy rainfall.
  • Direct the flow away: Make sure the downspout extensions carry the water at least six feet away from the foundation. This distance allows for proper water dispersal and prevents it from pooling near the house.
  • Consider underground piping: If you prefer a more discreet solution, you can opt for underground piping to redirect the water flow. This involves burying the downspout extensions below the ground, leading the water away from the house.
  • Monitor the redirection: During rainfall, observe the redirected water flow and ensure it is effectively carrying water away from the house. Make adjustments as necessary to optimize the drainage.
  • Maintain and clean the downspouts: Regularly clean your gutters and downspouts to prevent debris from blocking the flow of water. Clogged downspouts can impede the effectiveness of redirection, leading to potential water accumulation.

Redirecting downspouts is a relatively simple and cost-effective solution. It helps to minimize water pooling near the foundation and protects your home from potential water damage. If you’re unsure about the best redirection path or need assistance with installation, consult with a professional for expert guidance.

Read more : How To Slope A Flat Roof For Drainage

  • Implementing Proper Grading Techniques

Proper grading is crucial for effective drainage on a sloped yard. Correctly grading the ground around your home ensures that water flows away from the foundation and prevents water from pooling near the house. Follow these steps to implement proper grading techniques:

  • Assess the existing grading: Evaluate the slope and level of the ground around your home. Determine if the grading is directing water away from the house or if it’s causing water to flow towards it.
  • Create a desired slope: Ideally, the ground should slope away from the foundation at a rate of at least one inch per foot for the first six feet. This gradual slope allows water to naturally flow away from the house.
  • Mark the desired grading lines: Use stakes and string to mark the desired grading lines. This will serve as a guide as you proceed with adjusting the grade of the ground.
  • Add or remove soil: If the ground slopes towards the house, you may need to add additional soil to create the desired slope away from the foundation. Conversely, if the slope is too steep, you may need to remove soil to achieve a more gradual slope.
  • Compact the soil: After adding or removing soil, compact it using a tamper or a plate compactor. This ensures that the soil is firm and stable, reducing the risk of erosion and maintaining the desired slope.
  • Monitor water flow: Observe how water flows on the graded ground during rainfall or after watering. Make adjustments as necessary to ensure that water is properly directed away from the house.
  • Consider the use of swales: If you have areas where water tends to accumulate, you may need to incorporate swales or shallow ditches into the grading. Swales can help redirect water to more appropriate drainage areas.
  • Regular maintenance: As time goes on, continue to monitor the grading around your home. Check for any settling or changes that may impact the effectiveness of the slope. Make adjustments and regrade as necessary to maintain proper drainage.

Implementing proper grading techniques helps ensure that water flows away from the foundation, preventing potential water damage and foundation problems. If you’re unsure about the best approach to achieving the desired slope or need assistance with grading, consult with a professional for expert guidance.

  • Planting Suitable Vegetation

Planting suitable vegetation is an often overlooked but effective solution for improving drainage on a sloped yard. The right plants can help absorb excess water, stabilize the soil, and enhance the overall drainage characteristics of your yard. Here’s how you can plant suitable vegetation to address drainage issues:

  • Assess your yard’s conditions: Evaluate the soil type, sun exposure, and moisture levels in different areas of your yard. Take note of areas with poor drainage and those where water tends to accumulate.
  • Choose appropriate plant species: Select plant species that are well-suited for your yard’s conditions. Look for native plants, grasses, or shrubs that thrive in wet or damp soil conditions.
  • Consider deep-rooted plants: Opt for plants with deep root systems, as they can help improve soil permeability and prevent erosion. Deep-rooted plants are effective at absorbing excess water and reducing runoff.
  • Plant strategically: Pay attention to the placement of plants. Plant them in areas where water tends to accumulate, such as along swales or at the bottom of slopes. This can help intercept and absorb water, preventing it from flowing towards the house.
  • Add mulch: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of plants. Mulch helps retain moisture, prevents soil erosion, and improves the overall health of the plants.
  • Spacing and density: Consider the spacing and density of your vegetation. Planting too densely can impede water flow, while planting too sparsely may not offer adequate drainage benefits. Strive for a balance that allows for proper absorption and flow of water.
  • Regular maintenance: Ensure that you maintain your vegetation properly. Regularly prune, water, and fertilize as needed to keep plants healthy and thriving.
  • Monitor and adjust: Observe how the planted vegetation is impacting the drainage of your yard. Make adjustments as necessary, such as adding more plants in areas of concern or replacing plants that are not thriving in specific conditions.

Planting suitable vegetation can significantly improve drainage and reduce water runoff on a sloped yard. It’s important to choose the right plant species and strategically plant them in areas where they can have the most impact. Consulting with a local gardening expert or landscape professional can provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to your specific yard and climate.

Addressing drainage issues on a sloped yard towards the house is crucial for maintaining the integrity and health of your home. By understanding the drainage problem, assessing the slope, identifying potential causes, and implementing the right solutions, you can effectively manage water flow and prevent water damage.

Proper grading, installing a French drain system, creating swales, building retaining walls, redirecting downspouts, and planting suitable vegetation are all viable options to mitigate drainage issues. Each solution comes with its own benefits and considerations, and it’s important to choose the right approach based on your specific needs and the characteristics of your yard. Consulting with professionals, such as landscapers or contractors, can provide valuable guidance and ensure successful implementation.

Maintaining proper drainage requires regular monitoring and maintenance. Regularly inspect your yard, check for signs of pooling or erosion, and make adjustments as necessary. Keep your gutters and downspouts clean to avoid blockages, and be mindful of any changes in the water flow patterns or the condition of vegetation around your home.

Remember, a well-maintained drainage system not only protects your home from water damage but also enhances the overall aesthetics and value of your property. By taking proactive measures and addressing drainage issues, you can create a safe, dry, and beautiful living environment for you and your family.

So, roll up your sleeves, gather the necessary tools and materials, and embark on the journey of solving drainage problems on your sloped yard. With the knowledge and solutions outlined in this article, you are well-equipped to tackle the challenge and enjoy a dry, worry-free home!

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Utah State University

Search Utah State University:

Solutions to soil problems iii. drainage.

solutions to the problems of drainage

Drainage is a common problem throughout Utah. Complex patterns of soil development, transport and deposition have resulted in excessively drained soils that are coarse-textured (sandy or rocky), and poorly drained soils that are fine-textured (silt and clay-dominated). Excessively drained are more common in higher elevation and bench areas. Poorly drained soils are more common in low elevation and valley floor areas. Compaction and soil layering may also restrict drainage and are problems in areas of new development where heavy construction equipment is used and new soils are brought in for landscaping.

Extremes in drainage can cause plant growth problems. Excessive drainage subjects plants to frequent water stress if the irrigation system isn’t adjusted to apply water frequently but in small amounts to maintain a moist root zone. Poor drainage subjects plants to a perpetually wet root system, which can result in increased root disease, iron deficiency, and other growth problems.

Most drainage problems can be identified by inspecting the soil before planting. Extremely coarse- or fine-textured soils will have drainage problems. The presence of compacted soil layers can be identified using a soil probe, metal rod or shovel. Water pooling such as in a low spot in the landscape or a planting hole also indicates a drainage problem. Ideally, water will drain from a planting hole within 24 hours.

Living with a Soil Drainage Problem

Certain plants are adapted to excessive drainage conditions. These are typically desert species that tolerate extended periods of drought. Other plants adapt to poorly drained soil conditions. Species commonly found in swampy or high water table areas may tolerate such conditions. Table 1 lists common landscape plants and their soil drainage requirements.

Alterning Soil Drainage

The following cultural and managerial practices can be used to alter soil drainage:

  • Amend the soil with organic matter. Organic matter universally improves the water holding capacity of excessively-drained, sandy soils, and improves drainage in fine-textured soils. Incorporate organic matter as deep as possible, or consider double digging to increase the depth of organic matter additions.
  • Install subsurface tile drains. A tile drain is a length of perforated plastic pipe buried 12 to 18 inches beneath the soil surface. Excess soil water enters the pipe and is conducted to an open ditch or gutter out of plant root zones. Many home improvement stores carry tile drain supplies. Manufacturers can also be found on the internet.
  • Install vertical drains in planting holes. A vertical drain or “dry well” is a hole 4 to 6 inches in diameter and 3 to 5 feet deep dug in the bottom of a tree or shrub planting hole. A soil bucket auger or post hole digger can be used to excavate the hole. The hole is filled with coarse gravel to provide a drainage outlet for water that might otherwise pool in the bottom of a planting area.
  • Construct raised (for poor drainage) or sunken (for excessive drainage) beds. Raised beds or planting on hills or berms raises a part of the plant root system above the native, poorly drained soil. Beds 8 to 12 inches high are adequate for many garden plants while hills or berms 2 to 3 feet high are better for woody plants. Sunken beds channel more water to plants growing in excessively drained conditions.
  • Mix layered soils. Where new soils are placed on top of existing soils first place a 2 to 3-inch layer of the new soil, mix thoroughly with the existing soil, and place the remainder of the new soil on top.

Michael Johnson, Grand County Extension Agent and Rich Koenig, Extension Soil Specialist

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Solutions to Soil Problems I. High Salinity (soluble salts)

Solutions to Soil Problems I. High Salinity (soluble salts)

Salinity is a measure of the total amount of soluble salts in soil. As soluble salt levels increase, it becomes more difficult for plants to extract water from soil. Some plants are more resistant than other’s, but as the salt levels exceed their ability

Solutions to Soil Problems II. High pH

Solutions to Soil Problems II. High pH

The majority of soils in Utah are alkaline with an average pH of 8.0. Alkaline soils in Utah are the product of the alkaline parent materials that formed them and thousands of years of development in an arid (low rainfall) environment.

Solutions to Soil Problems III. Drainage

Drainage is a common problem throughout Utah.

Solutions to Soil Problems V. Low Organic Matter

Solutions to Soil Problems V. Low Organic Matter

Utah soils are inherently low in organic matter due to the desert climate and historically low plant growth rates.

Why are my soils so alkaline? Can I lower my soil's pH?

Why are my soils so alkaline? Can I lower my soil's pH?

With so much interest in acid-loving plants like blueberry, azalea, silver maple, etc., many folks wish they could easily reduce their high, alkaline pH levels to accommodate them.

Solutions to Soil Problems: IV. Soil Structure (compaction)

Solutions to Soil Problems: IV. Soil Structure (compaction)

Compaction destroys soil structure and causes significant plant growth problems in Utah landscapes. It is normally caused by repeated foot or vehicle traffic over the same soil area.

The Cool Down

Gardener’s smart solution to drainage problem creates welcomed surprise: ‘This is beautiful’

One gardener’s practical and low-effort update to their yard turned out to be unexpectedly beautiful as well as functional.

Rain gardens are a popular and natural way to deal with excess water pooling in your landscaping. Basically, you identify or create a low area in your yard, grade the surrounding surfaces so that all the water runs to that spot, and then plant deep-rooted, water-loving plants. 

The plants keep the soil loose so water can soak in faster, minimizing expensive flooding damage and erosion, and the extra water keeps the plants happy and healthy. They can handle a surprising amount of water, as one landscaper’s recent video shows.

This Redditor was shocked to discover just how healthy. “Garden that started off as a solution to a drainage problem and grew flowers that are taller than me in one season!” they said in their post.

They also shared a series of progress photos showing how their rain garden developed. The first few photos illustrate how water pools in the lawn around the homeowner’s window well and exterior air conditioner , leaving an unpleasant, muddy mess. However, they’ve cleared space to plant their new garden along the side of the house and fence. 

In the next few photos, they’ve laid down mulch and put in several plants, saplings, and flowers. Eventually, early blossoms become a thick tangle of flowering bushes that wrap around the side of the home, eagerly drinking up the extra water.

According to the original poster, getting started wasn’t complicated. “I used several different bags of mixed wildflower seeds,” they said in a comment . “One was from the hardware store, but I got some others online that were supposed to be native to northeastern U.S.A.”

“This is beautiful,” said one commenter .

Others had a few suggestions for improving the flower mix in the rain garden. 

“Since you have moisture issues I would recommend seeking out native plants that enjoy periodical moisture,” one user recommended. “Depending on your area you can look for obedient plant, false sunflower, bottle gentian and/or wild mint. Find out what’s local; don’t trust the hardware stores, as they fill ‘wildflower’ seed bags with all kinds of European, Asian, and South American plant varieties.”

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more , waste less , and help yourself while helping the planet.

Gardener’s smart solution to drainage problem creates welcomed surprise: ‘This is beautiful’ first appeared on The Cool Down .

Photo Credit: u/streeter555 / Reddit

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Could vacant office spaces across the U.S. be the solution to a national problem?

Headshot of Manuela López Restrepo

Manuela López Restrepo

solutions to the problems of drainage

What is the fate of all this empty space? Thomas Barwick hide caption

What is the fate of all this empty space?

Across the United States, empty office buildings are leaving once-bustling downtown areas with less foot traffic and are forcing experts, residents and officials to figure out what exactly will happen with these vacant structures.

A recent study from the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield found that about a fifth of U.S. office space was vacant as of the end of last year. The vacancy rate varies, with cities like Los Angeles, Houston and Cincinnati hovering around 25% and cities like Savannah, Ga., and Naples, Fla., coming in under 5%.

The high rate of vacancy is about more than just the shift to a work-from-home culture because of the COVID-19 pandemic , according to David Smith, the head of Americas Insights at Cushman & Wakefield, who authored the study.

Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds

Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds

"It's really four factors over the last few years that have impacted office occupancy," he told NPR. "One is we've had a lot of economic uncertainty going back to 2020 and early 2021 and then, again, certainly over the last year as interest rates have risen."

Smith also factors in remote and hybrid work, the surplus of new constructions that are more appealing to office seekers and a pivot to subleased space to help offset the costs of owning office real estate.

Despite these challenges, Smith is optimistic that vacancy is reaching a peak and that a return to office spaces is imminent for two main reasons.

"One is we expect to see job growth accelerate when we head into 2025 and beyond and that office-using industries in particular will take up a disproportionate share of new jobs that are created," he said.

"And two, we're tracking several hundred different companies and their policies around in-office work. And all of them, if they've changed their policies over the last couple of years, are actually moving towards having people in more."

An uncertain return to the office

The debate around return-to-office policies has been playing out for well over a year now, as bosses and workers navigate what a post-pandemic world should look like.

Across the private sector, in-office requirements were becoming stricter, NPR's Andrea Hsu reported in September , echoing what Smith's policy tracking has found.

Tough housing market is luring buyers without kids and higher incomes

Tough housing market is luring buyers without kids and higher incomes

"What we've found is, people have enjoyed coming back to the office," Zoom's chief people officer, Matthew Saxon, said last year. "There is a buzz. There's something about being able to go have lunch with your teammates."

Zoom is just one company on a growing list that is veering away from remote work by bumping up weekly mandatory days in the office for employees. Some other companies have started requiring employees to move near office hubs and have begun eliminating fully remote positions.

This is despite some workers reporting higher levels of job satisfaction, work-life balance and productivity when given the choice between working remotely or in the office, and some researchers saying that an in-office presence has not helped big companies make more money .

A possible pivot away from office space altogether

As the U.S. faces a well-documented housing problem and as office-building landlords face a vacancy crisis , some people have begun exploring whether there could be a mutually beneficial resolution for the two groups — converting empty buildings into residential housing.

San Francisco officials, for example, relaxed rules for some office-to-residential conversions . In Washington, D.C., the mayor proposed bigger tax breaks for office conversions .

Most homes for sale in 2023 were not affordable for a typical U.S. household

Most homes for sale in 2023 were not affordable for a typical U.S. household

Yet converting spaces has proved expensive, complicated and time-consuming , with the process often also steeped in bureaucracy. It's also harder to do for buildings constructed after 1950, according to Robert Fuller of the architecture firm Gensler.

"A lot of the kind of older prewar office buildings have already been converted and tend to work fairly well," Fuller told NPR last year. "What we're seeing now is a flood of buildings built in the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s that were much deeper. The advent of air conditioning and fluorescent lighting allowed these much larger floor-plate buildings, and those tend to be a little bit more challenging."

That's because the center is often darker and doesn't get sunlight, which makes conversion into homes harder.

As for Cushman & Wakefield's Smith, he says the office will continue to be part of the U.S. landscape for decades to come.

"I think the long-term trajectory is that the office is a central part of the economy," he said.

"I think this is an opportunity for the office market as well to redevelop itself. And actually, in 10 or 15 years, we'll look back and the office market will have revolutionized itself in a really exciting way."

The interview with David Smith was conducted by Sacha Pfeiffer, produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse and edited by Sarah Handel.

  • vacant office space

Veteran economists say a carbon levy would cut emissions, cut inflation and raise billions, but see little prospect of adoption

silhouetted coal mining digger next to a dump truck at a coal mine

Two of the nation's most respected economists have put forward a bold plan they say can lower global carbon emissions by at least 6 per cent, super-charge a new green export industry for Australia, deliver much cheaper power bills and even dramatically cut the rate of inflation.

They also frankly admit their ambitious blueprint, due to be unveiled at the National Press Club today, is likely to be immediately shot down by the major political parties.

Professor Rod Sims and Professor Ross Garnaut have spent the past six months working on what they're calling a pathway to prosperity for Australia in a net-zero world. Their work is for The Superpower Institute, a think tank focused on the economic opportunities of climate change, founded by Professor Garnaut and now chaired by Professor Sims.

Under their plan, a "Carbon Solutions Levy" would be imposed on all fossil fuel extraction sites (around 105 coal and gas projects) and all fossil fuel imports (oil and diesel). The levy would be in place by 2030-31, set at the level of the European Union's carbon price (currently around $90 per tonne of emissions).

The pair suggest the levy would raise well over $100 billion a year, declining slowly as fossil fuels exit the market. That enormous pool of funds would then be used to over-compensate households, slashing their electricity bills by $440 a year and removing all petrol and diesel excise. They estimate this would significantly lower the Consumer Price Index by more than 1.5 percentage points.

"This is the mother of all cost-of-living events", Professor Sims told the ABC, highlighting the benefit to households. "Everyone is a winner except those fossil fuel companies", which he frankly admits "will hate it".

A headshot of Rod Sims. He wears a suit.

The sizeable funds raised by the levy could also be used to repair the budget and fund further tax cuts.

The other key pillar of the plan is to set aside at least $6 billion a year from the funds raised for a new "Superpower Innovation Incentive Scheme".

This scheme would help the first few early movers in green exports get off the ground, with grants covering up to 50 per cent of their capital costs.

The vision is for Australia to become a major manufacturer and exporter of metals and fuels made with renewable energy, including green iron, green aluminium, green polysilicon, green transport fuels and green urea.

Zero and low-emissions industry would be powered by large-scale solar and wind farms in remote areas including the Pilbara.

"We are consumed by how to reduce carbon emissions here", says Professor Sims, arguing the greater focus should be on reducing global emissions, which could be 6-9 per cent lower if Australia were to adopt this plan.

The Superpower Institute is less focused on the ongoing battles over lowering domestic emissions. It's more concerned Australia may miss out on the enormous opportunities in the great global transition to a net-zero future.

Europe has already legislated a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which from 2026 will impose a levy on imports of carbon intensive products including aluminium, iron, steel, cement, and fertilisers.

Professor Sims says this means "green iron will be more competitive than black iron" in the European market from 2026.

He argues China will also need to import "green iron", due to its limited capacity to transition its own industry.

Ross Garnaut leans on a dead tree.

Professor Sims insists the plan being unveiled today is "not a Carbon Tax or an Emissions Trading Scheme". The Carbon Solutions Levy being proposed is confined to fossil fuel companies.

Nonetheless, the plan's authors acknowledge the levy will be branded a tax and will be initially rejected by the major parties, given the bruising history of climate and energy politics in Australia. Even if the scale of ambition in the plan was halved, they doubt either side of politics would embrace the idea.

"It doesn't matter", says Professor Sims. "This is a long-term game. The debate starts now. Every policy idea that involves complex economics takes years to permeate through consciousness".

But the longer Australia waits, the two economists argue, the more opportunities will slip away.

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Find the AI Approach That Fits the Problem You’re Trying to Solve

  • George Westerman,
  • Sam Ransbotham,
  • Chiara Farronato

solutions to the problems of drainage

Five questions to help leaders discover the right analytics tool for the job.

AI moves quickly, but organizations change much more slowly. What works in a lab may be wrong for your company right now. If you know the right questions to ask, you can make better decisions, regardless of how fast technology changes. You can work with your technical experts to use the right tool for the right job. Then each solution today becomes a foundation to build further innovations tomorrow. But without the right questions, you’ll be starting your journey in the wrong place.

Leaders everywhere are rightly asking about how Generative AI can benefit their businesses. However, as impressive as generative AI is, it’s only one of many advanced data science and analytics techniques. While the world is focusing on generative AI, a better approach is to understand how to use the range of available analytics tools to address your company’s needs. Which analytics tool fits the problem you’re trying to solve? And how do you avoid choosing the wrong one? You don’t need to know deep details about each analytics tool at your disposal, but you do need to know enough to envision what’s possible and to ask technical experts the right questions.

  • George Westerman is a Senior Lecturer in MIT Sloan School of Management and founder of the Global Opportunity Forum  in MIT’s Office of Open Learning.
  • SR Sam Ransbotham is a Professor of Business Analytics at the Boston College Carroll School of Management. He co-hosts the “Me, Myself, and AI” podcast.
  • Chiara Farronato is the Glenn and Mary Jane Creamer Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and co-principal investigator at the Platform Lab at Harvard’s Digital Design Institute (D^3). She is also a fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).

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IMAGES

  1. How to Fix Backyard Drainage Problems The Right Way

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  2. How to Fix Water Drainage Problems in Yard

    solutions to the problems of drainage

  3. 3 Ways To Fix The Water Drainage Problems In Your Yard ASAP

    solutions to the problems of drainage

  4. How to Fix Water Drainage Problems in Yard

    solutions to the problems of drainage

  5. 3 Ways To Fix The Water Drainage Problems In Your Yard ASAP

    solutions to the problems of drainage

  6. A Pertinent Remedy To A Persistent Water Drainage Problem

    solutions to the problems of drainage

VIDEO

  1. Getting the drainage done #propertydevelopment

  2. the drain is over flowing

  3. drainage system bigger than you think

  4. drainage problems

  5. proper drainage

  6. Drainage system complaints

COMMENTS

  1. How to Solve Yard Drainage Problems

    Add sand and compost to your soil to aid in draining. Install a trench drain to channel standing water away. Poor Lawn Slope If your lawn isn't graded properly to address sufficient water runoff, there's a good chance it'll lead to water problems like standing water and potential leaking into your basement area.

  2. Solve Common Drainage Problems

    One popular solution to a drainage problem is to route rain water to a low point in your yard where it can flow away from the house naturally over rocks in a dry creek bed. In particularly heavy storm events, the debris washed away from by excess water will be captured in a catch basin (pictured).

  3. How to Achieve Better Yard Drainage (DIY)

    The problem could be as simple as a downspout or sump pump discharge that's draining into a low area of your yard. Redirecting your downspout or running the discharge pipe from your sump pump drainage outside to a different location might be all you need to do. Install an In-Ground Drainage System Step 2 Draw a Drainage Plan Family Handyman

  4. Yard Drainage Problems and Solutions

    The simplest solution may be to fill in the low spot with soil and re-seed grass over it. Here are some additional solutions for standing water: Note which areas the water tends to pool, then direct water away from those areas using a French drain, a catch basin or a swale. A swale is a shallow channel designed to catch and reroute runoff water.

  5. 7 Common Property Drainage Problems and How to Resolve Them

    Problem #1: Improperly Installed Downspouts and Gutters Gutters and downspouts are essential parts of a home's exterior, but if they aren't installed or maintained properly, they can cause problems. The most common hurdle is when the gutters overflow or when leader pipes are not directing water away from the home.

  6. 8 Yard Drainage Solutions You Can Do Yourself

    1. Yard Slope or Pitch Ideally, your yard should be sloped in a way that allows water to drain away from your home. If you notice your yard isn't draining, it may be because the soil wasn't graded properly.

  7. 5 Smart Solutions for Dealing with Poor Drainage in Your Yard

    Step 1: Dig a Trench. Dig a trench from the wet area to the desired drainage area. An 18-inch-deep trench will usually work for most landscape drainage situations. The trench should have enough of a slope to move the water to the drainage area. Make the trench an inch or two wider than the pipe you plan to install.

  8. Yard Drainage Solutions To Try

    1. Aerate Lawns Regularly The simple act of lawn aeration helps increase the permeability of the lawn, allowing more water into the soil more quickly. Make it a point to aerate on schedule, while...

  9. How to Improve Yard Drainage

    An effective dry well should be able to collect the first 20 minutes of your largest average rainstorm of the year. You can connect a variety of drainage devices to a dry well, including French drains, gutters and channel drains. It might be necessary to consult your local building inspector and ask if permits are required for a dry well.

  10. 10 DIY Yard Drainage Solutions to Protect Your Home's Foundation

    Place one or more rain barrels around your home to collect water that would otherwise drain into the area near your foundation. You also can use the water collected in the rain barrel. Connect a ...

  11. 5. Drainage problems and how to avoid them

    5. Drainage problems and how to avoid them 5.1 General The ROADEX project has grouped the common drainage problems on low volume roads into three main categories; a) maintenance related, b) design related and c) other specific problems.

  12. 10 Drainage Solutions for Your Yard

    1. Aerate the Soil Soil gets hard, compacted, and tightens up the more we walk on it, the longer snow sits on top of it every winter, and the more stress a lawn sees. And when a powerful rainstorm comes along under these conditions, the water won't be able to penetrate the soil, so instead it will pool or wash off into a section of the yard.

  13. Solutions For Yard Drainage: How To Improve Soil Drainage

    Solutions for Yard Drainage Problems. Most minor garden and lawn drainage issues are caused by clay soil. A minor issue will be that you have standing water after a heavy rainfall for less than a day. Clay soil is more dense than sandy or loamy soil, and therefore, is slower to allow rainwater to filter through it.

  14. Install an In-Ground Drainage System (DIY)

    Stop dealing with water problems in your home and yard by installing this in-ground drainage system. This is a permanent, long-term solution to your wet yard. These step-by-step instructions and how-to photos walk you through the DIY installation. This project requires a lot of digging, but you won't have to deal with drainage issues ever again.

  15. 12 DIY Yard Drainage Methods

    Installing a channel drain starts with a narrow trench cut into the concrete or asphalt. Next, a long channel drain is placed in the trench. When water hits the channel drain, it's sent off in another direction, well away from the house or garage. Continue to 5 of 12 below. 05 of 12.

  16. Top 6 Solutions For Poor Drainage In Your Yard

    The first solution is to improve the drainage situation by diverting water underground. While water is a necessity in your yard, too much of it can cause damaged roots and create unhealthy growing conditions for the grass. ... Being able to solve drainage problems resulting from poor grading or low permeability of the soil in our yard is a ...

  17. Solved! Here's Who to Call for Drainage Problems in the Yard

    There's a chance that the drainage problems in a yard are too complicated to tackle solo and require the help of a landscaping professional who has yard drainage solutions. Plus, a homeowner may ...

  18. Understanding Drainage Problems: Signs and Solutions for Your Home

    Effective Solutions for Drainage Problems. When faced with drainage problems, it is crucial to implement effective solutions to prevent further damage and ensure the longevity of your property. Improve Yard Grading and Landscaping. Hiring a professional landscaper is an excellent investment in addressing drainage issues. They can evaluate your ...

  19. 4 Ways To Solve Drainage Problems

    Drainage Problems and Solutions To Fix Them. Having a drainage problem is a difficult thing to go through. If the problem is in the lawn or garden, it can lead to poor grass quality, declining health of landscape plants, and even as a breeding area for mosquitoes. Worse yet, if the drainage problem is related to the home foundation, it can ...

  20. DIY fixes for your lawn drainage problems

    The solution to poor lawn drainage largely depends on the problem you're dealing with. First, you should identify the symptoms you're noticing in your yard (pooling water, mushy soil, mud, things of that nature) to figure out the possible cause.

  21. Drainage Problems And Solutions

    The top four most common drainage solutions are: 1. Surface Drainage Many homesites have uneven grades, especially in some of the hillier areas, where water becomes trapped, causing flooding and muddy areas in lawns and shrubbery. A drainage specialist can create a drainage plan utilizing surface grading to allow for proper drainage.

  22. Solving Drainage Issues On A Sloped Yard Toward The House

    Solving Drainage Issues On A Sloped Yard Toward The House Modified: December 8, 2023 Written by: Samuel Turner Looking for expert home maintenance tips to tackle drainage issues on your sloped yard? We have the solutions you need to prevent water from flowing towards your house Home Maintenance Gardening & Outdoor Landscaping Ideas Artificial Grass

  23. Solutions to Soil Problems III. Drainage

    Install subsurface tile drains. A tile drain is a length of perforated plastic pipe buried 12 to 18 inches beneath the soil surface. Excess soil water enters the pipe and is conducted to an open ditch or gutter out of plant root zones. Many home improvement stores carry tile drain supplies. Manufacturers can also be found on the internet.

  24. The World Has Lots of Problems. The Trick to Solving Them Is More

    Innovation isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think about a sanitation department. But a few years ago, when New York City officials found themselves in the market for a better ...

  25. Gardener's smart solution to drainage problem creates welcomed ...

    "I would recommend seeking out native plants." Gardener's smart solution to drainage problem creates welcomed surprise: 'This is beautiful' first appeared on The Cool Down.

  26. Could vacant office spaces across the U.S. be the solution to a ...

    As the U.S. faces a well-documented housing problem and as office-building landlords face a vacancy crisis, some people have begun exploring whether there could be a mutually beneficial resolution ...

  27. Veteran economists say a carbon levy would cut emissions, cut inflation

    Under their plan, a "Carbon Solutions Levy" would be imposed on all fossil fuel extraction sites (around 105 coal and gas projects) and all fossil fuel imports (oil and diesel). The levy would be ...

  28. Find the AI Approach That Fits the Problem You're Trying to Solve

    Summary. AI moves quickly, but organizations change much more slowly. What works in a lab may be wrong for your company right now. If you know the right questions to ask, you can make better ...