More on Drainage

Atrium Grate
To prevent clogging

There is a basic protocol when it comes to residential drainage drainage correction.

1. Correct the issue by re-grading. In other words re-shape the ground to direct the flow of water away from the house and off the property. Preferably into the street, alley or drainage easement and not into the
neighbor's yard.

2. If re-grading alone will not work then the use of surface drains is the next step. There must still always be some slope away from the house. If when creating that slope a new low spot is formed where water will
pond, it may be necessary ti install a surface drain. This is a drain grate attached to a catch basin which collects water as it flows across the surface of the ground. This surface drain is connected to a pipe which then carries that water (driven by gravity) down hill to a predetermined discharge point. Many times at the bottom of a curb or into an alley.

3. If the property to be drained is so flat that there is no "Down Hill" to drain water to, or even worse, the    
    house is completely surrounded by higher ground, it may become necessary to pump the water out to the
    street or alley. The ground should still be re-graded to provide slope away from the house and to direct
    water to the location of catch basins. The pipe that the catch basins are connected to will then lead to a  
    pre-manufactured pit that is dug in at least 4' in the ground and is at least18" in diameter. A sump pump is
    placed in the bottom of this pit. the sump pump is typically operated by a float switch. As the water level in
   the pit rises it will activate the float switch. The last stage in this system is the discharge pipe which is
   installed from the pump to the street or alley. The discharge pipe is almost always going up hill, but that's 
   OK,  that's why there is a pump.

In summary the first way to  solve a drainage problem at a typical residence is to try #1, if that will not work then try #2, and lastly if #2 will not work then use the last protocol. Water goes downhill, if you do not have a down hill then the only way to get it up hill is to pump it.

A Typical Surface Drain

Bottom of Curb Discharge

Down spout adapter collects water directly
from the gutter and puts it into the drainage system

If you have problems with water below your foundation and in the crawl space of a pier and beam foundation then stay tuned for the next drainage blog where French drains and subsurface water will be explored.