Who to Call for Drainage Problems in Your Yard
Water ponding under a gutter downspout during a rain storm in a yard.
If you have a lot of water in your yard or you think you may have a drainage problem, you’ll want to figure out who to call ASAP to get it fixed before that water causes any damage to your property or to your home.
In this post, we’ll tackle subjects like:
Who should you call about yard drainage problems?
8 signs of improper drainage in your yard or improper yard grading
How to fix a yard that holds water
What to do if you have a sinkhole related to stormwater drainage problems
What is a stormwater drainage system or yard drain?
5 types of yard drains
What is stormwater management?
A storm drain is embedded in brick pavers on a patio.
Who should you call about yard drainage problems?
Drainage problems on your property can involve a lot of different issues ranging from water lines, sewer lines, septic tanks, stormwater runoff, and irrigation system problems.
It really depends on what problem you are dealing with to narrow down who the best person to call would be in a given situation.
Local municipality
For issues relating to stormwater pipes or water pipes that are under the jurisdiction of your town or city, you’ll want to contact that particular municipality for assistance. If you’re not sure whose responsibility a pipe or drainage problem belongs to, you can ask them.
County
Many times, stormwater runoff management is handled by your county. If that is the case for you and your problem is related to something the county is responsible for, you’ll want to check with them. Big issues that affect water runoff for the neighborhood and are public drainage infrastructure-related could fall under the county’s care.
Landscaping companies
Landscaping contractors can be a valuable resource when it comes to yard drainage problems that are not covered by your city or county. If you need grading for your yard, French drains, yard drainage systems, or want to re-route water, these local companies can help.
They can also help with repairing or replacing broken irrigation pipes or nozzles. When the broken pipes are fixed and you don’t have extra water pouring into your soil, that can help a lot, as well.
Drainage contractors
Drainage companies can do a thorough analysis of your entire property’s drainage needs. They can help with the installation and repair of drainage systems, yard grading, and changing the route of stormwater runoff in your yard.
Plumbers
If you have clogged drains, overflowing sinks/tubs/toilets, a leak in a water pipe, or broken water or sewer pipes, a plumber can diagnose your problem and do pipe and plumbing repairs to get things back into working order. Remember that if your water meter is showing a huge increase in water usage, the leak and problem are likely on your end.
Your local water company
If there is a leak that is not causing your water meter to show a huge jump in water usage, the problem might just be on your water utility company’s end. If you’re not sure whose responsibility the leak is, contact the water company or a qualified plumber to check on the issue.
Foundation repair companies
Water in your crawl space or basement that’s causing foundation damage might require a good foundation repair company to come to correct the problem for you. They can waterproof your crawlspace or foundation. They can also help with things like sump pumps and mold remediation in your home.
If you need a landscaping company or yard drainage contractor in Columbia, SC, we can help.
A drainage problem in your yard is a serious thing. You’ll want to try to get to the root of the problem as quickly as possible and get it fixed before it creates more damage.
At Boots On Enterprises, we can assist clients with all kinds of yard drainage concerns by providing installation of yard drainage systems, repair of drainage systems, yard grading, landscaping services, tree services, paving services, and hardscaping services.
Simply contact us for a FREE estimate.
Phone:(803) 521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
A yard with standing water near a wooden privacy fence in need of a good yard drain.
8 signs of improper drainage in your yard or improper yard grading:
Signs you need a yard drainage solution include things like:
Standing or ponding water in the yard.
Dead or dying plants or grass.
Water damage or mold/mildew in your foundation or basement.
Soil erosion.
Mud and pooling water on your hardscaping.
Root rot in trees and bushes.
Bare spots in your lawn.
High and low spots in your yard.
How to fix a yard that holds water
How to fix standing water in yard depends on the exact cause of the problem. There are a number of possible yard flooding solutions. Here are a few of the most common ones:
Install or repair a yard drainage system like a French drain or other yard drain.
Correct leaking or broken pipes underground.
Regrade the yard if it doesn’t have enough slope away from the house.
Add a sump pump to low areas.
Install a retention pond or dry well.
Aerate the soil if it is compacted and not absorbing water properly.
Build a retaining wall with a good drainage system for a steeply sloped area.
Add landscaping plants that absorb a lot of water.
Create a rain garden.
Add a swale with large rocks or gravel to give a dry creekbed effect to your landscaping.
Your particular situation may have issues that require unique ideas or expertise to resolve. But contacting a yard drain expert or landscaping professional near you is a great place to start.
A Boots On Enterprises excavator dug up the soil to find the stormwater drainage pipe problem that was causing a sinkhole in the yard.
What to do if you have a sinkhole in your yard due to stormwater drainage problems
Sometimes, a sinkhole can be caused by a problem in a pipe below the soil.
This customer above came to us because of a recurring sinkhole in their yard for many years. We dug down to the stormwater drainage pipe and found it cracked in two places with significant gaps.
Common reasons for sinkholes in a yard include:
Cracks or holes in a pipe in the yard.
Drought and low groundwater levels.
Erosion under the ground’s surface.
Dissolution of rocks below the surface.
For a sinkhole related to poor drainage or storm pipe problems, you can likely hire a trusted yard drain contractor near you to solve the issue quickly.
If there is a sinkhole and you are not sure if it is safe to be on your property, take every precaution and make sure you, your family, and your pets are out of harm's way until your property can be properly inspected.
According to USGS.gov, areas most prone to serious sinkholes tend to “occur in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.” Check out their site for a map of areas that are more likely to experience “collapse sinkholes.”
A large concrete stormwater pipe with fresh concrete patches to cover the cracks surrounded by dirt - work done by Boots On Enterprises.
In this case, we were able to patch the concrete stormwater pipe and then cover the area with gravel and soil to fix the problem.
If you have a sinkhole that is not related to a pipe issue, or erosion, you may need to have a professional evaluate your situation and determine the best approach.
A yard drainage system using a ditch (or swale) with large gravel to keep the yard from flooding near a road.
What is a stormwater drainage system or a yard drain?
First, let’s define what we mean by stormwater. Then we’ll get to the drainage systems.
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is the water that falls into your property or ends up on your property after rainy weather. All that water has to go somewhere.
What is a stormwater drainage system?
Stormwater drainage systems are thoughtfully designed components and conduits that route rainwater away from your home and areas you want to protect toward a safe place for that water to flow.
It provides a plan and mechanism to move storm runoff to an appropriate location where it won’t cause harm to your property or a neighbor’s property.
Many times, a stormwater drainage system is a municipal thing that is cared for by the city or county and helps to manage stormwater runoff for the neighborhood or even a community.
But private homeowners or business owners may also need stormwater drains or yard drains. Some of the common places for a yard drain would include low spots in the yard but also you may want storm drains on or beside a patio, hardscaping, or driveway so that those areas don’t flood during heavy rains.
Metal grate of a water drain in a yard with grass on both sides.
A stormwater drainage system generally has components like:
Stormwater drain/yard drain
Stormwater drains and yard drains are usually metal grates that lead to a pipe or reservoir below.
Stormwater pipe
Stormwater pipes are usually fairly large metal or concrete pipes that are underground and direct water to a larger pipe, creek, pond, or other appropriate receptacle.
Stormwater detention basin
A stormwater detention basin is a manmade low-lying area that is usually dry but helps to control stormwater runoff by storing it and releasing it gradually when there are times of heavy rainfall.
Stormwater basin/stormwater pond
A stormwater retention basin or stormwater pond is designed to permanently hold water but can also accept more water and help to control the movement of water after rain storms.
A channel drain installed alongside a brick paver patio near the grass.
5 types of yard drains
There are five main types of storm water drainage system options. Let’s look at each one. These can be used separately. But they can also be combined for use as a comprehensive drainage system.
Channel drains/trench drains
A channel drain (or trench drain) works well for paved areas. There is a long metal grate above a “channel” that collects the water into an underground drainage system. You can see an example in the image above.
Drainage gravel, drain stones, and pebbles around the foundation of the house as part of a French drain for storm water drainage.
French drains
A French drain utilizes a trench that is dug in the lowest part of the yard. Landscaping fabric lines the bottom of the channel and is covered with gravel. Perforated pipe rests on top of the gravel and then more gravel is added on top of the pipe.
Sometimes, pipeless French drains are used that don’t involve a pipe, just the trench and gravel.
The yard drain pipe directs water away from your home or hardscaping toward a drainage area. This is a great storm drainage system for residential or commercial use.
A yard drain is situated in a low spot in a grassy area of a lawn.
Yard drains/collection basins
Yard drains often have a square metal grate at a low point in the yard that sits over a yard drain box underneath the ground. The boxes collect water and lead it to underground drain pipes.
Pop-up drain emitter
Another option to consider for excess runoff near gutters is a pop-up yard drain. It involves a pipe that leads from the gutter away from your home to a place where the water can then run downhill. It has an emitter that “pops up” when the water pressure is high enough, allowing the water to leave the pipe and cover a larger surface area.
A road with a ditch (or swale) for stormwater drainage.
Swales
A swale is a ditch or small valley that is dug into the ground for the purpose of leading storm runoff to a storm drain, creek, pond, or lake. It prevents erosion and flooding. It can, if properly designed, help to filter out pollutants. It’s a very cost-effective solution for yard drainage. Or for drainage beside roads or sidewalks.
Swales can be dressed up with vegetation or gravel/stones to create a dry creek bed look that can be quite beautiful.
A heavy-duty cast concrete headwall for stormwater runoff surrounded by large drainage rocks under a driveway.
What is stormwater management?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Stormwater is rainwater or melted snow that runs off streets, lawns and other sites. When stormwater is absorbed into soil, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers.
In developed areas, impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches and can cause:
Downstream flooding
Stream bank erosion
Increased turbidity (muddiness created by stirred-up sediment) from erosion
Habitat destruction
Combined storm and sanitary sewer system overflows
Infrastructure damage
Contaminated streams, rivers, and coastal water
The agency uses stormwater management strategies to lower the volume of runoff and increase the quality of stormwater.
For more information about EPA’s Stormwater Management Practices at EPA facilities, check out this resource. It may give you some inspiration about how to best handle your own stormwater on your residential or commercial property.
Stormwater management in the Columbia, SC area
Counties and towns often have stormwater management divisions. In the Columbia, SC area, you can reach your county stormwater management at these links.
Richland County Stormwater Management
Lexington County Stormwater Management is now called Land Development
For yard drain installation or yard grading near you in the Columbia, SC area, we can help.
If you are frustrated by backyard drainage problems and need professional commercial or residential drainage solutions, Boots On Enterprises can take care of your yard drainage woes.
We can install commercial or residential drainage systems, repair a cracked storm drainage pipe, grade your yard for proper drainage, and help with your landscaping needs, as well. And if you need drainage solutions for your concrete patio, pool deck, or hardscaping, that’s right up our alley. We are fully equipped to do paving, resurfacing, and paving repairs, too.
Just contact us today for a FREE estimate. Next-Day and Same-Week service is available.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
