Drainage Installation Guide
- Grading French
- Drains Drain
- Basins Channel
- Drains Dry Well
- Sump Pump

Every drainage problem requires a site assessment to determine the optimum solution.
There are a myriad of drainage mitigation strategies that can be combined in a number of ways.

Drain Basin

Flooded Yard

Connected Gutter to Corrugated Pipe
Pros and Cons of Grading
Pros
- Requires little to no maintenance
- In most applications, will never fail or become overwhelmed
- Permanent solution
Cons
- Moving earth is labor intensive and thus expensive
- Process typically includes removing existing sod or other vegetation
- Requires some kind of soil stabilization to hold the loose soil after grading (rock, sod, mulch) which will add cost

Lazer Level to Check Grade

Skid Steer Moving Soil
Channel Drains
What is a Channel Drain?
A channel drain is typically used on concrete or other paved surfaces. This creates space for water to flow to avoid pooling on the hard surface.
Applications
Channel drains create a neat and durable solution for paved surfaces. They can be installed in:
- Driveways
- Sidewalks
- Flowerbeds
- Pool patios


Dry Wells
What is a Dry Well?
A dry well is an underground well thats allows collected water to infiltrate the soil.
In our area, there is usually a layer of clay that prevents surface water from quickly infiltrating the soil.
A Dry well bypasses this clay layer, allowing water to drain faster.
Application
Dry wells are effective in fixing low lying areas where there is a moderate amount of standing water, but there are no feasible means of piping the water out.
Typically, dry wells are much less expensive that other types of drainage solutions


Sump Pumps
What is a Sum Pump?
A sump pump is an electric pump that has a float switch.
They are typically installing inside of a drainage basin.
When water enters the drain basin, the float switch turns to pump "ON" until the water level recedes and the water is pumped away.


Applications
Sump pumps are effective solutions for low lying areas with extreme amounts of water- with no other feasible options to fix the drainage. Sump pumps are typically very expensive to install. Electricity must be available near the sump pump.
Major drawbacks:
- They can become clogged/overwhelmed
- If the electricity goes out, the pump does not function
- Usually requires grading to channel water
Process

Grading surrounding area for optimum flow

Area is repair and resodded

Pump installed in the basin