Backyard Drainage

by Chris
(Crown Point,Indiana)

We just had an inground pool removed and now our yard is filled with a mixture of sand and dirt. Water just sits on top of the yard in various places and we would like to know what is the best fix/solution for this water/drainage issue! Outside the back of our yard in the field about 10 yards is a city drain/manhole that we could drain the water into. We just need someone to guide us on how to drain our yard ?

Thanks,

Chris

ANSWER

Hi Chris,
You should probably take some elevations or have someone do this for you.

Typically a pool is set a bit higher so that the water drains away from the pool coping across the patio to the patio edges at 1/4" per foot. If you removed the pool, it's possible it was not filled up to this level and that is why the water is sitting there.

Prior to removing the pool, assuming you did not have any drainage issues, the water pitched to the edge of the pool paving and had to be directed somewhere. Technically, if the elevation of the pool area is raised, this pattern should continue. That is the easy way of doing it.

However, now that the pool is not there, perhaps there are other drainage options. (But you don't know what they are until you know your ground elevations...where it is high, where it is low, etc.) Perhaps you don't like the look of a slightly elevated area in this place. Maybe it would be better to start at your house as a high point and grade your land away at 2% (1/4" per foot) to just have a gentle slope leading the water away. Maybe it has to be graded differently.

You said there is a manhole/city drain that you could tie into. Typically a manhole has a cover and down in it is a pipe entering it from the side. You can't drain water into the top since it is covered. You need to tie into the pipe on the side. You could possibly grade your lawn to an area, pitched properly so that it DOES drain there, and then have a lawn drain. The lawn drain would have a pipe leading to the pipe in the manhole. But the key is for all the pitches to be correct.

So in essence, you need your existing elevations and then a grading plan. The solution should be the simplest and least expensive one that works. Don't let anyone over design this and charge you an arm and a leg.

If I can be of further help, let me know via my Contact Form.

Susan