How to stop overflowing water from other properties?

Barbara35

I have an existing colourbond fence as a boundary fence between my property and the adjoining property.

I continually have flooding when heavy rain pouring through from their  place. It is like a dam has burst and we have renewed all of our storm water and drains  at a cost of $9000.

Our drainage accommodates water on our property but not the extra from behind. When this happens it floods the top level which becomes like a swimming pool and over the garden and is like a waterfall coming down over the steps  to the patio. When the water gets to the patio we have to broom it to the side so that it doesn't enter the house. We have had to have SES provide sand bags.

We have spoken to the neighbor who says his yard floods as well but says it is nature and is not prepared to do anything .

We have spoken to the Council on a number of occasions and one again they are looking into it.

We are having quotes to build a wall across the back but this is very expensive. We thought we would get cement sheeting and put that across the back to prevent this flooding. We were thinking  of making it approx 3ft high. and to go across approx 405ft 

Not sure what product to use and really need help.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Barbara35. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about garden drainage.

Natural watershed, especially on sloped blocks, is a difficult issue to deal with. Depending on the properties' layout and if there is a significant amount of water entering your property, then the neighbour likely has it entering theirs as well. The issue gets compounded for the lower blocks as the higher ones drain into them. Building a wall or installing cement sheeting could be effective in preventing the flooding, but it's important to ensure that any solution you choose is both effective and within the regulations and guidelines of your local council.

I'd suggest installing drainage along the fence line to collect this intruding runoff would be more effective than to try and block it with sheeting. I know it's a difficult situation, but be aware that if you divert the water from your property into someone else's and this additional flow causes damage to the property, there would be a liability issue. This seems particularly unfair when others are not interested in assisting in resolving the issue. I have a concern with cement sheeting because it's not designed to be used in water retention/diversion systems. If it were to hold back a considerable amount of water and debris before failing, you would be dealing with a deluge from a dam burst. 

Would you be able to dig a ditch across the fence line and install a drainage coil into it? That way, the water will be captured and directed to your stormwater. Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to install garden drainage.

Let me mention one of our knowledgeable members, @TedBear, to see if he has any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell