Outdoor Solutions - Flooded Backyard

The Problem:

The house and pool are situated downhill from the street and neighboring lots. There is insufficient parking and minimal room to turn around. The elevation and shape of the existing driveway is steep and eroded. Water pools in areas by the garage and has eroded portions of the front yard. Storm water flows from the adjacent lot directly into the pool, silt, sand and dirt are flowing into the pool and onto the pool deck. The steps at the front door are awkward and high. There is no sod in the backyard, and the privacy fence needs to be replaced.

The Plan:

Widen the driveway, towards the side property line, by about four feet. Create additional parking for cars. Eliminate water pooling by the garage. Direct storm water from the neighbor away from the pool. Eliminate silt and storm and storm water runoff from entering the pool. Create a smooth transition from the drive to the pool. Eliminate add configuration of the front step. Redirect driveway runoff (by garage) into stormwater culverts.

The Solution:

Expanding the width of the driveway required the removal of a dying Water Oak and a portion (approximately four feet) of the existing red-clay hill. Once the hill was removed, a low 2′ x 80′  wall was installed to hold the hill in place. A French drain was installed behind the wall to collect water flowing downhill from the upstream neighbor and was connected to an underground 8″ pipe. The driveway was removed and reconfigured to accommodate more cars, as well as to eliminate standing water at the garage. A slight grade change eliminated the awkward front step configuration. Running directly under the new driveway and existing 130 feet in the City’s storm system, we placed an 8″ double walled pipe. Connected to this pipe, in the drive itself, we have installed 32 feet of channel drains designed to capture water flowing down the drive from the city street and uphill neighbor. All downspouts are piped into the 8″ pipe. Following the slope, from the driveway to the pool, we have installed a series of three small walls six inches high to transition from the higher drive to the lower pool area. Each small wall was angled to direct storm water into catch basins tied into the 8″ buried pipe. Steps were added at the end of the wall to allow easier access to the pool deck. Granite rock was added between the wall/steps to prevent erosion and create a walkable path. A 24 foot long beam was added along the property line to direct uphill neighbor’s water into the clients newly sodded backyard at a more gradual angle.

BEFORE

AFTER