A Rain Garden Solution to a Rainwater Runoff Problem

14 Nov A Rain Garden Solution to a Rainwater Runoff Problem

We were asked by a recent customer to address a perennial groundwater saturation issue.  When it rained hard, the roof water inundated the foundation drainage piping causing it to overflow onto their lawn and onto the neighbors property.

We addressed the overflowing drainage pipes by redirecting a roof water downspout to an area slightly downhill from the house to an area more than 20 feet from the foundation where we dug a proper sized basin which would become a minor swale during periods of heavy rain.  This excavation area got partially refilled with “biosoil” a proprietary blend of compost and sand and planted with a variety of native plants that thrive in areas that occasionally get flooded.

For the rest of the problem area where residual rain water saturated the lawn during storm events, we armored the water’s path with fist-sized cobble rocks over soil-stabilizing geotextile fabric.  We’ve created a manageable new garden bed in the place of the soggy and unusable lawn!  Great success!

Enjoy the slideshow: