Thousands of additional gallons of valuable rainwater can be easily and economically spread on your lawn each year.
Here is a method you may use to build a new home or rebuild your lawn. You may use this method without further approval if you are located in a non-restricted rural area.
However, in most metropolitan areas, the codes control the water dispersal method from roofs, so you will have to check with your local authorities for approval to install drains as described here.
Most codes call for a drain to the street or road, but in most instances, the type or style of drainage pipe is not specified.
Draining Materials
Pipes with Tight Joints
Usually, however, the first few feet adjacent to the foundation will require vitrified fiber or plastic pipe with tight joints.
Of course, it is good to use a line close to the foundation to prevent seepage or dampness from reaching the basement walls.
Using a very porous clay, shale, or cement drain or soil pipe for the drains leading away from the building will permit the rainwater to spread to the soil by seepage through the pipe walls as it flows away from the building.
In the same manner that this type of pipe collects water from damp or wet soils, it will spread the collected rainwater to the top areas of the new or rebuilt lawn.
New Drain
The new drain should have a slight fall and should be laid about 4” to 6” inches deep. If the fall is very slight (just off level), the water will spread about 2’ feet on each side of the drain line in average soils.
Of course, the farther you get away from the building, the less the spread, except under unusually heavy rains and wet spells.
By laying the pipe in an irregular pattern of curves or angles using the various types and sizes of fittings available, the slope or fall can be held to low limits even though the drop from the house to the street or road is very steep.
Type Of Pipe
Figure 1 shows a curving type drain laid with this type of pipe. Other patterns to suit the conditions may be developed using other style fittings.
This type of pipe is usually available in one-foot lengths in both three- and four-inch diameters.
Curves, elbows, tees, and wyes, as shown in Figure 2, are also made in these sizes. The cost is usually less than other types of drain or sewer pipe, so you can lay as much as two times the required length at the same cost for the job.
The ends of the pipe are cut square and will fit together reasonably tight when laid close together.
If the joints are open at the top, the opening may be covered with a small piece of felt to prevent the fine soil from dropping through to clog the drain.
In the case of a quick hard rainstorm, the water will rush through the drain directly to the street or road.
It takes some time for the seepage to start through the walls, and a slow, steady rain will start seeping through the pipe into the soil near the source and gradually increase to the end of the drain.
This method will not take care of the entire watering chore but it will help make a much better lawn.
44659 by Robert Taylor