How to Stop Water that Runs Off Your Neighbor’s Property from Pooling in Your Yard
Water draining from your neighbor’s property and pooling in your yard, planter area or near your home’s foundation can cause a variety of costly problems
Water from an uphill neighbor can drain towards and puddle next to your home. Whether the water is coming from a single location or along the length of the neighboring property installing an underground drainage system allows you to protect you home against costly water damage.
We recommend using an underground drainage system (illustrated below) to safely and efficiently drain water that is flowing into your yard from a neighboring property. It consists of: two round NDS Spee-D basins with two atrium grates to collect surface water with molded in connection for drain pipe; two NDS EZ-Drain pre-fabricated, gravel-free trench drains that connect the components of the drainage system and carry the water to a safe release point; and an NDS pop-up emitter that provides an overflow release point for all excess water to drain from the drainage system.
Why is this a good solution?
- Low capacity to hold light intensity storm runoff.
2. Spee-D basins can be quickly installed in the ground beneath an area collecting runoff water.
3. Captured water is carried away before it is discharged to the surface using a pop-up emitter.
Note: Many municipalities limit the amount of water that can be legally discharged to municipal storm drain systems.
Tools needed
Parts needed
(~$105–130 total materials cost)
4” NDS EZ-Drain trench drain (2)
Time estimate
~13–15 hours
Step 1: Lay out system, dig trenches and holes
Lay out system, dig trenches and holes and dig trench to top of foundation footer or bottom of basement wall.
Step 2: Connect EZ-Drain and place in trench
Connect the EZ-Drain sections together using internal corrugated couplings and place the EZ-Drain bundles next to the footing or wall. Bundles can be held in place by wedging the bundles between a wooden stake and the foundation or basement wall. Additional aggregate only bundles can be stacked on the piped section as needed. Aggregate only bundles allow water to easily reach the piped sections so it can be quickly carried away.
Step 3: Install pop-up emitter
Using a corrugated pipe adapter, connect a drain pipe to one of the piped sections of EZ-Drain to create a discharge point. Connect the drain pipe to an elbow with a weep hole. The elbow should be installed with the weep hole on the horizontal side of the elbow. Slide the pop-up emitter onto the elbow. An additional length of pipe can be used between the elbow and pop-up emitter to bring the pop-up emitter to the surface. The pop-up emitter fits on the bell or hub end of the pipe or a pipe coupler.
TIP: To avoid damaging your pop-up emitter with your lawn mower, raise the cutting level of the blades or avoid passing the mower over the pop-up emitter.
Step 4: Backfill and replant
Backfill with permeable soil and replace any grass or plants that were removed.
TIP: DO NOT BACKFILL WITH SOIL WITH HIGH CLAY CONTENT. Water must be able to easily pass through the backfilled soil.
Before You Dig
Prior to installation, have your local utility companies locate and mark the location of existing utilities. Lay out your drainage system and mark the location of trenches and individual parts to be installed with marking paint before digging. Carefully remove grass or plants that are located where the trench will be dug so they can be replanted after installation. Trenches should be dug such that they slope a minimum of one percent away from your house. Place all excavated dirt on a tarp so that it can be used later to backfill.
To speed up installation, a trenching machine can be used to dig all trenches, especially in areas with particularly hard soil. NDS drainage products have been designed to be installed in any soil type. Due to the variety of pipe types and sizes, double check that all pipe connection points are the correct size. Please follow all installation directions included with the individual parts of your drainage system. To create watertight connections between products, apply a bead of waterproof silicone to both parts and connect.
This system requires that the elevation of the pop-up emitter be lower than the elevation of the area drain or the system will not drain.
For more information, please visit the NDS Home Drainage Center.
