How to stop storm water pooling?

[steven13]

Hi, Im currently having issues with my brick piers sinking. Before fixing them, I need to fix the root cause of the issue which is water pooling in the front section of the house on the drive way.

I have circled in red where the water comes from and ill attach photos of where it ends  up. The path it takes it from the front left to the right rear of the property. All downpipes are fine and charged system to the rain water tank and no street drainage. This is my issue as all the down pipes are charged and connected to the rainwater tank.

I do have a stormwater pipe running to the rear of the property on the left side of the house next the gate. I would like to connect to that and let the water run to the rear of the property. I just needing a solution for the water to get to that section and stop it traveling under the front brick work and washing the piers.

 

This is where the water ends up pooling once washed from the front.

The driveway is being replaced shortly so im happy to cut and install before that happens.

Thank you

[JacobZ]

Hi @steven13,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Since you are dealing with an issue of surface water, the solution would be to add channel drains to capture the surface water before it can flow to the brick piers. These channels should run towards and be attached to a drainage pit, which can then be attached to the stormwater pipe. Please note that if the stormwater drain is discharging into a council stormwater system, you will need to have a licensed plumber make this connection.

As you seem to be well aware of the path that this surface water takes, installing your channel drains as close to these locations would be ideal. If you can block the water's natural path with your drains, then you should be able to divert the vast majority.

It would be worth drawing a rough sketch with a pencil and paper, showing the top-down view of your home, and showing the basic path that the water follows. With this plan on paper, we should be able to help you with a basic drainage plan that you can tweak to suit your circumstances.

Allow me to tag our experienced members @Nailbag, @AlanM52 and @Dave-1 who may also be able to help.

Let me know what you think and if you can upload your sketch, I will happily assist further.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @steven13 

Knowing where the water is pooling and the route you want to go to get rid of it makes life a LOT easier.

I was wondering if you could run the stormwater pipes under the front of your house down to the rear left? Temporarily until you remove the concrete driveway. That way no need to cut and dig it out. 

So you pick the lowest point in your lawn/against the edge of the garden bed. Install a grilled drain square and then trench the pipe away, under your house so no digging and diagonally down to the back corner. I would also suggest to install some sleepers alongside the front of the house and fill that area to make garden bed, forming a dam. With the drain and the dam the water should be focussed towards that drain and away down the rear of the yard (Do you have neighbours down there?).

When you go to change the driveway I would suggest to install new stormwater piping under the concrete as well as a Grill drain down the side next to the house. Also maybe the edge of the driveway so it catches the water runoff during downpours. 

It would be a nice project to post up here as a lot of us have ponds that develop in various parts of our yards. 

One mor ething you could do as you have a dip in the yard that brings the ater to that high point is to gradually "top up" the soil in that area, casting soil out over that area every few weeks and let the grass grow up  through summer will help level the area.

Dave

[AlanM52]

Hi @steven13,

Don't really have anything to add because everything has been mostly covered except to say the Everhard drainage system is a good choice for temporary drainage solutions while other remedial works are in progress - which I have done before - and then relocated to a more strategic location to assist with overall drainage.

Cheers