Help With Drainage Problems

Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

By Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, December 1998

A spot on your yard looks like a swamp...Your eroding side yard is a mud slide...Your basement always leaks after it rains.

Who do you call for advice on how to correct these problems? Homeowners and residents often seek technical assistance from the staff of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.

When a request for assistance comes in by phone, a conservation staff member will record the information on a conservation problem report. A site visit, if necessary, is usually scheduled within two weeks.

The following are some of the most common homeowner problems and staff recommendations.

Wet Basements
A wet basement often may be attributed to poor drainage around the house.

Where does roof runoff go and how are the downspouts from the roof directed? Water should be directed well away from the basement wall of the house. Connect an extension to the downspouts to drain the water farther from the basement wall.

Does the grading around the house have a sufficient slope, and are there signs of soil settlement (pockets or depressions) immediately around the basement walls? Fill the depressions around the outside walls of the basement using clayey soil.

Are there cracks in foundation walls? Seal cracks in the foundation with a wall sealant.

Are gutters being cleaned and maintained? Keep gutters free of leaves and other debris.

If there is a sump pump in the house, is the system working? Repair or replace the sump pump.

These are recommendations that the homeowner can do without hiring a contractor. Sometimes, however, these options are not enough. In that case, the homeowner may need to install an underground drainage system along the basement walls.

Wet Yards
Wet soils and/or poor drainage can leave yards wet for extended periods of time. Recommendations to address this concern include: fill low-lying areas with topsoil so the water on the surface drains away from the wet area in the form of runoff; put in a surface swale (elongated depression) to channel water away from the wet area; and for serious wet areas, consider installing an underground drain to redirect the water.

If none of these alternatives work, installation of an outdoor sump pump may be needed.

If you live in Fairfax County and have a drainage or erosion problem, please contact the Northern Virginian Soil and Water Conservation District at 703-324-1460.