If you are dealing with a flooded crawl space or basement you are not alone. Unfortunately we work with many clients in this predicament. In this particular situation we had a client with a large water shed during heavy rain events entering their property, which would create a visible stream of water flowing towards their house. Much of this water entered directly into the crawl space since the HVAC unit was a low point in the yard and created an ingress for the water.
Efforts to remedy the situation once the water entered the crawl space became a daunting task. It required multiple sump pumps to evacuate the water. Countless nights of staying up and monitoring the water levels and also missed days at work lead to an increased desire to resolve where the water originated and eliminate it all together.
It was determined that a swale would be the best remedy for the issue. A swale was elected was due to the active presence of water. It would take a very large pipe to handle the amount of water that was present during a weather event. One side effect of a swale is the potential for extra surface water which can lead to wet site conditions. It's also more difficult to play soccer or mow the lawn where a swale is located. While there was sufficient slope for a swale in this location it did come with a few challenges. Where the digging was to be performed there was electric, communications, water and sewer lines. The communication line needed to be relocated since it was barely beneath the surface.
When performing site work it is important to note that all changes need to be made within the limits of the existing property line elevations. In this situation that required a quick change of slope from the property line to the base of the swale and back up to the top of the berm and back down again before the HVAC unit. In an effort to minimize costs we also try to work within the limits of the site. In this situation we performed a cut and fill method. We cut out the swale and used the dirt to create the berm. This berm and swale went the length of the property. The swale and subsequent berm created the necessary means for water collection and redirected the storm water runoff.
In addition to a swale we also installed a drainage downspout extension and catch basin. Downspout extensions can be a great tool and should be routed a minimum of 10' away from the foundation. Since the HVAC unit remained the low point, connecting an inlet box to this drain pipe and routing allowed for any surface water in this region to be collected and relocated as well.
Lastly, to finish the project it is important to reestablish vegetation. In this situation we installed seed and straw. Other options may include sodding or erosion mat depending on the desired repair time-frame, as well as if a sprinkler system is present on site.
Not all of our projects are glamorous. Drainage solutions are usually performed purely from a functional perspective. This project exhibits a solution which works very well to accomplish the desired task. Since this is located on a side yard it doesn't ruin the functionality of the yard. The back yard is still in tact and a use-able space for backyard BBQ's and roasting smores around the fire.
Jasper Ridge landscaping provides “Professional Landscape Services” to the Joplin and surrounding areas; including Carl Junction and Webb City. Our service area is contained within Jasper and Newton Counties in Missouri (MO). For more information about Jasper Ridge LLC please contact us using the contact form.
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