Drainage Options Information For Homeowners. Drainage Options 1. Horticultural ways to help wet soils 2. Slowing/intercepting Runoff 3. Slope/grading

Drainage OptionsDrainage Options

Information Information

For For HomeownerHomeowner

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1.1.HorticulturalHorticultural ways to help ways to help wet soilswet soils

2.2.Slowing/intercepting Slowing/intercepting RunoffRunoff

3.3.SlopeSlope/grading possibilities/grading possibilities

4.4.UndergroundUnderground/subsurface /subsurface alternativesalternatives


Horticultural Horticultural ImprovementsImprovements

• Soil Soil

• Plants Plants • MulchMulch

Drainage OptionsDrainage OptionsSoilsSoils• Add compost – organic matterAdd compost – organic matter

• Encourage Encourage earthworms/microorganismsearthworms/microorganisms

• Aerate lawnsAerate lawns

• AvoidAvoidcompactioncompaction


Plant SelectionPlant Selection• ““Wet Feet”Wet Feet”• Erosion control – groundcovers on slopesErosion control – groundcovers on slopes• Native plantsNative plants• Plant lists:Plant lists:- Extension Publications: Trees for Problem - Extension Publications: Trees for Problem

Landscape Sites: Landscape Sites: www.ext.vt.eduwww.ext.vt.edu- Native plants for Conservation, Restoration - Native plants for Conservation, Restoration

and Landscaping (comprehensive list):and Landscaping (comprehensive list):www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/native.htmwww.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/native.htm

Native PlantsNative Plants• Group several of the same plant Group several of the same plant

together to establish a healthy together to establish a healthy population.population.

Plants for Wet SitesPlants for Wet Sites

PlantsPlants• Royal fern, maidenhair Royal fern, maidenhair

fern, ostrich fernfern, ostrich fern• Cardinal flowerCardinal flower• Foam flowerFoam flower• Bleeding heartBleeding heart• Soloman’s sealSoloman’s seal• Butterfly weedButterfly weed• Columbine (native Columbine (native

variety: variety: Aquilegia Aquilegia canadensiscanadensis))

• Heavy metal switch Heavy metal switch grassgrass

PlantsPlantsShrubsShrubs• Sweet pepperbush (Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifoliaClethra alnifolia))• Red twig dogwoodRed twig dogwood• Bush blueberry (Bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosumVaccinium corymbosum))• Inkberry holly (Inkberry holly (Ilex glabraIlex glabra))• Winterberry holly (Winterberry holly (Ilex vertilulataIlex vertilulata))• Arrowwood Viburnum (Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatumViburnum dentatum))• SweetspireSweetspire (Itea virginica) (Itea virginica)• Red Chokeberry (Red Chokeberry (Aronia abutifolia)Aronia abutifolia)

PlantsPlantsTreesTrees • River Birch (River Birch (Betula nigraBetula nigra))• American Hornbeam (American Hornbeam (Carpinus carolinia)Carpinus carolinia)• American Holly American Holly (Ilex opaca)(Ilex opaca) • Sweetbay Magnolia Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia (Magnolia

virginiana)virginiana) • TupeloTupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) (Nyssa sylvatica)• Swamp White Oak Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)(Quercus bicolor)• Pussy Willow (Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)Salix discolor)• Bald Cypress Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)(Taxodium distichum)


MulchMulch• Organic – bark, shredded or “nuggets”Organic – bark, shredded or “nuggets”

• Depth of 2-4 inchesDepth of 2-4 inches

• AdvantagesAdvantages– Breaks raindrops/prevents erosionBreaks raindrops/prevents erosion– AestheticAesthetic– Weed controlWeed control

• No volcanoes!No volcanoes!


Slow RunoffSlow Runoff• Gutters/downspouts, Gutters/downspouts,

splashblocks/extenders splashblocks/extenders

• Rain Barrel/cisternRain Barrel/cistern

• Rain gardenRain garden


Gutters/downspoutsGutters/downspouts– Leaf guard to Leaf guard to

prevent prevent stoppagesstoppages

– Repair leaksRepair leaks– Check slopeCheck slope


Splashblocks/Splashblocks/extendersextenders– Slope AWAY from foundationSlope AWAY from foundation– Extend downspout: roll-out, Extend downspout: roll-out,

perforated extension (above perforated extension (above ground or buried);ground or buried);solid pipesolid pipe

– Drop inletDrop inlet

Drainage OptionsDrainage OptionsRain Barrels &Rain Barrels &

Cisterns – Cisterns – above or above or under-under-groundground


Rain Rain Gardens:Gardens:

Shallow landscapedShallow landscapedareas built to slow areas built to slow down and hold down and hold rain runoff, allowing it to rain runoff, allowing it to soak into the ground, instead soak into the ground, instead of flowing into storm drains.of flowing into storm drains.

Rain Gardens:Rain Gardens:Commercial UseCommercial Use

•Parking LotsParking Lots

•Neighborhood Common Neighborhood Common Areas, Parks, SchoolsAreas, Parks, Schools

•New Commercial New Commercial Developments (LID)Developments (LID)


Rain Garden AdvantagesRain Garden Advantages• Prevent ErosionPrevent Erosion

• Help prevent local (yard) Help prevent local (yard) flooding. flooding.

• Soak up to 30% more water than Soak up to 30% more water than lawns.lawns.

• Prevent pollutionPrevent pollution

Where to Build a Rain Where to Build a Rain GardenGarden• Between area to be drained (roof, Between area to be drained (roof,

driveway or yard) and storm drain or driveway or yard) and storm drain or streetstreet

• Where downspout or other area can Where downspout or other area can drain to it across a grassy area, or drain to it across a grassy area, or “filter strip” “filter strip”

• At least 10 feet from your house’s At least 10 feet from your house’s foundationfoundation

• An oval or oblong shape An oval or oblong shape approximately 5-7% of the size of the approximately 5-7% of the size of the area draining to it (roof, etc.) area draining to it (roof, etc.)

Testing DrainageTesting Drainage

• Dig test holeDig test hole•One foot deepOne foot deep

•One foot long/wideOne foot long/wide

• Fill with water until saturatedFill with water until saturated

• Fill again to top and let standFill again to top and let stand

• If doesn’t drain in 24 hours, the If doesn’t drain in 24 hours, the site is not suitable for Rain site is not suitable for Rain GardenGarden

Building Rain Building Rain GardensGardens• Call Miss Utility!!!Call Miss Utility!!!• Remove grass Remove grass

and 3-6+ inches and 3-6+ inches of soil to make a of soil to make a level bottom. level bottom.

• Mix in compost, Mix in compost, sand, topsoil, and sand, topsoil, and other soil other soil conditioners for conditioners for better drainage. better drainage.

Rain GardensRain Gardens

Drainage OptionsDrainage OptionsSlope/re-grading Slope/re-grading possibilitiespossibilities

•To slow and/or redirect To slow and/or redirect flow of runoffflow of runoff

But BEWARE: Don’t create But BEWARE: Don’t create more problems for yourself more problems for yourself or your neighborsor your neighbors


Slope/grading possibilitiesSlope/grading possibilities– Filling low spotsFilling low spots– Terracing slopes Terracing slopes – Swales and sermsSwales and serms– Dry creek bedsDry creek beds


Filling low spotsFilling low spots– If adding soil to low areas – If adding soil to low areas – be sure water has be sure water has somewhere to gosomewhere to go

– Incorporate the new soilIncorporate the new soil


Terracing Slopes Terracing Slopes – Prevents runoff erosion of Prevents runoff erosion of slopesslopes

– Makes better planting beds Makes better planting beds – level, more stable– level, more stable

Building TerracesBuilding Terraces• HeightHeight

• MaterialsMaterials

• ReinforcementReinforcement

• PlantsPlants

• MulchMulch


BermsBerms• Earthen mounds used to direct Earthen mounds used to direct

drainage (among other uses)drainage (among other uses)

• A site designer should evaluate A site designer should evaluate the entire site’s drainage before the entire site’s drainage before considering a berm of significant considering a berm of significant size.size.

Drainage OptionsDrainage OptionsSwales:Swales:• Shallow Shallow

earthen earthen channels channels covered covered with grasswith grass

Building A Dry Creek Building A Dry Creek BedBed• Mimic stream’s shape – Mimic stream’s shape –

meander?meander?• At least twice as wide At least twice as wide

as deep (good size as deep (good size is three feet wide byis three feet wide by18 inches deep)18 inches deep)

• Add rocks/plantsAdd rocks/plants• Lead to dispersal area Lead to dispersal area

or pond (NOT street)or pond (NOT street)


Underground/Underground/subsurface alternativessubsurface alternatives

• Hire Assistance for underground Hire Assistance for underground drainage options to ensure proper drainage options to ensure proper diversion and dispersal of water:diversion and dispersal of water:– French DrainFrench Drain– Underground drainage systemUnderground drainage system


French DrainFrench Drain• Gravel-filled Gravel-filled

trench trench • Perforated pipePerforated pipe• Covered withCovered with

fabricfabric• Slope to aid drainageSlope to aid drainage• Call Miss Utility FIRSTCall Miss Utility FIRST


Underground Drainage Underground Drainage SystemSystem

• Hire a professional contractor Hire a professional contractor qualified to create drainage qualified to create drainage systems.systems.

Questions?Questions?

Documents

Drainage Options Information For Homeowners. Drainage Options 1. Horticultural ways to help wet soils 2. Slowing/intercepting Runoff 3. Slope/grading