When installing hand excavated french drain groundwater removal systems, vent both the french drains and the rain drain discharges into storm water retention ponds, if possible, connected to wet-dry creek bed venting areas that can be developed as value added landscaped features full of life.
Hillside locations are fun to work with when they are not too steep and the weather is good. The use of small ponds at the end of wet-dry creek beds, that are used for venting french drains and rain drain collected groundwater, can also bring a special beauty to these areas, if suitable topography exists to create them.
Groundwater mitigation collection areas like these are called storm water retention ponds.
Hand excavated french drains and rain drain discharges that vent roof water through the gutter system can be vented in this manner as well, as long as the vented water does not drain onto a neighbors property below the site, creating problems for them in any way. Make certain that the groundwater vent, which could run hard at times, depending on the groundwater flow, does not create a public drainage problem of some sort below it, like washing out a street below with a mud flow from an overflowing pond above it.
Common sense and professional home drainage planning can give beautiful environmentally sound results that benefit homeowners, birds, flowers, trees, shrubs and animals.
I love creating those types of groundwater removal systems.
The excavated dirt from your french drain installation can be used to create raised beds, berms and the banks of your dry creek system, if you choose.
These wet-dry creek bed drainage venting areas are usually lined with river rock of various sizes, some sand, and some dirt, and established with perennials and self sowing annual plants, as well as other decorative rocks and garden ornaments.
The increase in value to your homes landscape and functional home drainage systems alone, as well as many benefits to the entire home site many times, can be equal to, or greater than, the cost of the french drain installation itself.
Not every site is suited to this type of groundwater removal venting. But when everything works right it is a wonderful practical “green” way to dispose of your roof water and groundwater around your homes foundation. You are indeed fortunate if you recognize the opportunity to create a french drain-downspout dry and wet creek venting area for your hand excavated french drains and downspout venting.
Many times the landscape plant material itself is planted by the homeowners, after the river banks, river bed, and the drainage structure has been created; saving money and providing the whole family with a pride of ownership project that they can do themselves.
Homeowners can enjoy a park like environment for a lifetime, with almost no maintenance. Children can help by choosing and planting flora to accent the area as well as making garden art.
These types of projects can become great workshops for studying nature, gardening, and yourself as well. These types of home drainage projects can be the segue that leads children to develop a serious interest in gardening and nature. Perhaps even become a home drainage contractor. A long shot probably. But more likely, perhaps a landscape design career to follow, for the youngster smitten with the urge to carve dirt, plant trees, shrubs, and flowers, and loves to make landscape art that feeds the birds and animals too.
Look for natural ditches and drainage areas that already are almost there, perhaps only needing some additional depth and the addition of better planting dirt, boulders, plants, trees, garden feature items, and whatever will attract the birds to your little paradise.
A property with a slope can be challenging in many ways, but it can also be a blessing with respect to groundwater removal alternatives, as well as provide opportunities to create what mother nature would have been proud to create herself.