Question
Water in yard
I bought a house 8 years ago at the bottom of the subdivision. A spring seems to be coming up from under the ground in my backyard. I figure it is a spring because it has flowed for 8 years. I have tried numerous things including an expensive french drain system. I have at least confined it to an area, but the french drain cannot handle the water. I really have no place for it to go to except a gas field behind my house. I also have a clay wet saturated area in back corner. Any help would be appreciated.
AnswerHello,
You might consider digging a deep trench drain through the affected area. Water will then flow through the trench and to an outlet,if one can be found. In the trench you could lay a large diameter perforated pipe,embedded in gravel, to carry the water and then you could simply backfill the pipe with the soil that was removed for the pipe. The pipe of course must have a large enough flow capacity to keep the water below ground level. One or more of such pipes could be used,perhaps connected by smaller pipes running perpendicularly to the main drainage pipes. Lay filter fabric over the top of the pipe gravel bed. This is known as an underdrain.
Or a grid of smaller diameter perforated pipe (typically layed in a herringbone pattern) could be layed underneath the whole area. This is done in agriculture on a routine basis to lower water tables in order to allow fields to be planted.
You might also want to consider combining these methods with mechanical pumping and filling the area with more soil to raise the level of the ground and then in effect,lowering the water table. If this is an actual spring and not just a high water table than dealing with the problem will change somewhat.
The more permeable the surrounding soil is,the better drainage pipe will work. Consider making the soil more permeable by adding organic matter,sand and gravel.
Have the site analyzed by someone knowledgeable in drainage to determine what the nature of the spring and/or water table issues are on your site. This will allow a satisfactory solution to be implemented.
Consider modifying the soil of the clay area by adding more permeable materials,consisting of mainly organic matter and some sand and gravel. If this is not possible,consider using one or more catch basins,placed in low spots,if a suitable outlet for the basins can be found. Or,perhaps a rain garden or wet or dry retention pond could be established,either on the surface or below ground,if the soil is more permeable. Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.
Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email:
[email protected]
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/724-104627/Landscaping-Design/Mark.htm
