A Homeowner's Quick Guide to Stormwater Control on Their Property
If your property is not graded and sloped properly, this can mean some issues with stormwater collecting on the property itself, causing flooding and other such damage. This can be very serious, as floodwaters can collect around a home's foundation, causing leaks and cracks, and the floods can easily wash away topsoil as the water drains away. To avoid this, note a few tips for stormwater control on your property.
1. Underground trenches
One reason for stormwater to collect on a property is that it seeps into the soil and then is not directed away from the property, so the water continues to get deeper and a flood will form. Underground trenches can ensure that water doesn't simply collect in the soil; you can dig these trenches, lay down PVC pipe that has been cut in half lengthwise to form this trench, and direct the pipe to slope downward and away from the property, and drain to the street. As the water collects on the soil, it will then drain into the pipe and be directed off the property, rather than sitting there and causing a flood.
2. Ponding
Ponding refers to creating a feature on your property to which you direct stormwater; this may be an actual pond that can be fed by stormwater, or a landscaped area. These ponds and landscaped areas should then have vegetation planted that needs excess water, such as water lilies and reeds. These plants will absorb the excess water as it drains into the pond or landscape feature, and keep the water from collecting or pooling around the property. Such a feature may also have a border or edging that helps to keep the stormwater in that location, so it doesn't continue to collect on the rest of your property.
3. Stormwater pits
A stormwater pit refers to a pit that is dug in the property and then connected to a drain that runs off the property. This can be needed if trenches and ponding are not sufficient to manage the stormwater that usually collects on your property. The pit allows for more stormwater to collect in that area at once, and the drains are usually larger and may be directly connected to the city's sewer or water supply. Stormwater pits may have a commercial type of grate over the drain, to collect solid materials such as leaves and twigs, and this needs to be cleaned often, so keep in mind that regular maintenance if you decide to have such a pit installed on your property.