Guidelines for Surface Drainage

1.  The ground elevation around the house should be a minimum of 18 inches higher than the street.

2.  The soil around the house should be graded so that it slopes away from the house at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet.

3.  All lots should have some form of swale on the property to take surface water away from the house.

4.  All down spouts should be extended on top or below the ground at least 10 feet away from the house.  It is best to use solid plastic pipe for extending down spouts.

5.  The front half of the house and lot should be graded to drain to the street and the back half of the lot and house should be graded to drain to the side and rear yard swales.

6.  Plant a good grass cover on the lot and in the drainage swales to prevent erosion.

7.  On sloping lots, construct a diversion (mound) to take the water around the rear of the yard to a drainage swale or catch basin.

8.  Do not plant willows or other water loving trees to drain your problem areas.  They will cause problems in the future.

9.  In many cases, re-grading or filling with a little more topsoil will eliminate low spots.  But in some instances, re-grading or filling will only move the problem somewhere else.