Your Home Needs The Right Drainage Structures

Before the 1960s, most homes didn’t have great drainage structures on their property. In fact, they had water management systems in place that actually drained right into the local municipal storm sewers. Regrettably, this sort of drainage system is commonly illegal across most of the continent. In quite a few cases, the storm waters collected by all the homes wound up being too much for the municipal system to actually handle, which meant there were overflows into the sanitary sewer system. Sewage treatment plants weren’t able to accommodate how much runoff water flowed into their system, and so there were tons of untreated sewage discharged into area streams, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Since these bodies of water were also sources of community drinking water, these circumstances posed dire health threats for area citizens and inhabitants.`

Most drainage structures and downspouts attached to modern homes are actually designed to simply eliminate runoff water because they will just discharge it onto the ground, either near the base of the home, or just slightly further away. Downspouts might also get attached to a constructed underground drainage system that is known more commonly as a French drain. The downside of this is that it’s costly to design and install. It also needs regular and professional maintenance to clear out debris and any other substances that might be clogging up the piping underground. These structures don’t discharge water straight into any municipal storm sewers, as the runoff water has to travel before it gets there. As such, some of the water can get absorbed into the ground prior to reaching the sewer, and this is very advantageous for the natural groundwater aquifer.

When there are downspouts that just discharge water onto the ground, it’s crucial that doesn’t impact the ground that surrounds the home. Serious problems can result from any runoff water pooling up around the physical structure of the home. If the soil erodes in the yard, it can create an eyesore and wind up leaving a slick and muddy mess that makes it impossible to plant your lawn or garden in. You might not even be able to walk through it. Water that collects might leak into the home’s basement, making things dank. That can be perfect conditions for some health-threatening mold. The worst possible issue can be the water seeping into the home’s foundation, making wood rot and concrete crack. If this happens, a home needs immediate repairs in order to prevent catastrophe from happening.

This is why runoff water has to get eliminated as far as is possible from the base of a house. Rather than shelling out thousands of dollars for a costly drainage system that will also require expensive and routine maintenance, consider a more economical solution. Downspout extenders from every downspout can help rid your home of runoff water. If your local building codes and HOA by-laws allow their use, use them to disperse rain water at least six feet away from your home. Having said that, some properties have so much flooding that local ordinances will require something more substantial, such as a French drain.