Winter Drainage in New Brunswick: Swales Beat French Drains

Spring melt and rain-on-snow events cause driveway icing and basement window leaks. French drains with soil cover are slow, clog-prone, and poor at intercepting surface flow.

Better System

1. Intercept upslope with a swale, ditch, or trench drain before water reaches the driveway.
2. Use open-inlet trench drains or catch basins at low points—fast capture, visible maintenance.
3. Pipe to a daylight outlet or dry well below the house.
4. If using perforated pipe: Skip fabric only if slope >2% self-cleans; otherwise wrap pipe in fabric.
5. Do not cover drains with soil/turf—keep inlets open for winter function.

A berm/flood wall with a retention basin behind it, drained by a French drain, is a secondary option. Get a site plan before digging.