Wash Away Excess Water with Four Stormwater Best Practices

1. Check for mushy areas under downspouts.

A downspout adapter with overflow cleanout or a catch basin can help transition water from the downspout straight to the drainage pipe. Catch basin kits are ideal solutions as they come with all the components necessary, which helps reduce trips for extra parts. Not only are they lightweight and easy to install, they work stealthily underground (and out of sight) to capture excess stormwater from the surface and convey it to the drainpipe.

2. Look for puddles and dying grass.

These are signs that water isn’t moving effectively, leaving a muddy mess and creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. An ideal solution is the installation of an NDS Flo-Well® dry well in a low spot in the yard - they are great for collecting, detaining and releasing water back into the ground and only needs a small amount of gravel at the base of the tank to allow more detention volume.

3. Inspect foundation for signs of cracks and damage.

For water that sits too close to a home’s perimeter, a great go-to is the NDS EZflow® French Drain system. It’s a pre-assembled lightweight bundle that makes transporting materials and installation easier. It features slotted pipe surrounded by aggregate wrapped in geotextile mesh and can help save a property’s foundation by keeping water away from the house.

4. Inspect garden beds for drowning plants.

If you notice standing water more than 24 hours after a storm around your client’s mulchy areas and vegetable patches, and plants aren’t growing and thriving, recommend a domed atrium grate on a pipe to help convey water away by directing it to a pop-up emitter as a point of release. A domed grate allows water to flow through the top while organic debris and mulch is blocked near the base.