HELP - NEED TO BUILD DRAIN AROUND PROPERTY

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diggznroxxy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Apr 27, 2014

I will be purchasing a property that is 30 meters long and 16 meters wide. The property has an existing drainage problem.

The main city drain runs in the front of the property. From the back, there are a couple of properties between it and the city drain. Over the years the drains have clogged up with nothing done by the city authorities and this has resulted in the properties being under water every single time it rains.

I plan to build a new brick house (on concrete slabs) right after I purchase the property.

I have approached the city department responsible for drains to get the problem fixed but nothing has been done since I reported it a couple of months ago - I will not wait for the city authorities.

I want to build a drainage system around the property to collect the water and have it run into the drain at the front of the property. As this will be my first home, I would like to oversee this myself.

I need any help at all I can get in designing my drainage system - please help.

thank you in advance.

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) May 01, 2014

I can help if you can get me some numbers.

1) Is the property a rectangle 30m x 16m? Is the drainage system you want to connect to along the 30m part or the 16m part?

2) What is the change of elevation from the lowest point to the highest point?

3) Please draw a simple diagram of the property and include the high point and the low point, and where you want to build.

Here is a suggested solution that shows the concept, but without the drawing of your property this is not accurate.

If you are allowed to add soil to the property or to move soil around on the property then the first line of defense is to build on the highest spot, even if you have to mound up the soil yourself. Consult with an engineer. Some soils do not work well this way. You will have to compact the soil.

Build a retaining wall on the uphill side that can divert a lot of the surface water. Consult with an engineer about the materials and best installation so the first flood does not wash away the wall!

Trench around the house and add perforated pipe near the bottom of the trench. Backfill with coarse gravel (size2- 5cm is good). This will collect the water that is moving through the soil and keep the soil under the house drier.
You can add a solid pipe in the same trench that collects water from the surface such as area drains, catch basins and the downspouts from the house. Consult with an engineer about how large a pipe and what size catch basins you will need.

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