Solving a Landscape Drainage Problem in
Ford's Colony
Client Concerns
The drainage problems at this residence had been developing over the course of a decade. Years of inundation, misplaced irrigation,
and overgrown plantings had changed the flow of runoff and resulted in channeling and pooling of water at various locations around the house. Several attempts had been made to alleviate the problems,
however the client thoroughly believed the resulting drainage solutions were merely ‘Band-Aids” to a greater underlying problem.
Our task was to design drainage solutions that would solve once and for all the on-going drainage issues on the property while protecting and enhancing the existing landscape.
Site Analysis
The property is located in Fords Colony, a green field development outside of Williamsburg that is about twenty years old. We have discovered that our Ford’s Colony clients will
often approach us to solve problems resulting from their original drainage plans, which were often poorly designed. Some of the drainage issues we frequently encounter
include:
- Poor Grading - Landscapes around homes may not be pitched to drain, or may even drain slightly towards the house.
- Too-narrow Ground Gutters - Ground gutters often don’t extend far enough away from the home to be effective during medium or heavy rain.
- Poor Subsurface Piping Decisions - Many problems can arise from inadequate below-ground drainage systems: pipe diameters that are too small, improper pipe
outlet locations, little to no pitch over long distances, no clean-out locations at turns, inferior materials, mis-located drain boxes, and improper size and use of dry
wells.
- Water Damming and Restriction - Landscaping features like raised planting beds, added after the home is established, can sometimes change water flow
direction and create pooling. In other locations, they may restrict and channel the flow of runoff, causing bare surfaces and erosion.
- Tight Lot Space - Since drainage plans are typically designed to address a single lot rather than an overall neighborhood, they often employ shortsighted
solutions to their drainage issues. And the resulting restricted space within a lot will sometimes require creative solutions to a simple drainage problem (i.e. getting water to
flow across a slope instead of down towards a neighbors driveway.
Master Drainage Plan
When evaluating a property, our initial approach is to assesses problem locations around the property, develop a map of where water is flowing, and formulate
a plan for where water should be directed. This information is used to develop a master plan that addresses water movement throughout the entire property, and details specific drainage solutions at problem locations.