Top 10 Most Efficient Ways to Manage Water Runoff

As the past month has shown, major amounts of rainfall can create potentially dangerous problems to your home’s foundation and landscaping. Excessive water runoff can clog drains, topple trees, seep into the basement, and cause damage to your roof.

What’s the best way to keep your property safe from water damage? The following tips will help:

Plant Trees and Shrubs

Home landscaping not only makes your home more attractive but helps with water drainage. The root systems of trees and plants soak up additional water and help with soil erosion. Plants also help filter pollutants in water runoff, making potentially harmful sediments in soil more beneficial to your property.

Regrade Your Slope

If your yard has puddles of water 24 hours after rainfall, you may have water drainage issues. Soggy soil can create mold, brown patches of grass, and leaks in your foundation. Consult with a professional landscaping company to see if you may need to regrade the elevation of your yard. The company will bring in dirt to redirect water flow around your home.

Enhance Your Gutters

Gutters and downspouts that are too short simply dump rainfall right back onto your yard, which may result in puddles of water and leakage. That can cause damage to your foundation over time. Consider installing underground pipes that direct water away from the base of your home. Longer downspouts can help as well.

Cover Soil with Mulch

Bare soil can be just as hard to absorb water as rock. Mulch or ground covers help soak up water runoff, keeping sediment intact. It’s best to apply a thick layer of mulch in the early spring and fall season to help absorb extra water.

Create a Swale

A creek bed or swale is one of the most effective ways to move water away from your yard. These drainage channels collect water and redirect it to areas that will absorb more of the water. A swale or creek bed should be done with a professional landscaping firm to ensure the water isn’t being redirected to your neighbor’s lawn.

Install a Rain Barrel

Adding a rain barrel or large cistern to catch excess runoff from roofs. You can use this water later to irrigate plants around your property. It’s an inexpensive, environmentally friendly solution that can be incorporated in different spots around your home. 

Reduce Your Impervious Surfaces

Many townships are now regulating the amount of hard, impervious surfaces on personal properties. This means that driveways, patios, hardscaping, and walkways must be under a certain percentage of the entire lot size. Make sure you have enough grass and landscaping to soak excess water runoff. For future projects, consider using crushed rock or gravel for walkways and patio areas.