Yard drainage - design guidelines for subsurface drainage - Ask Extension
My back yard is wet most of the year and would like to install a French drain or similar sub-surface drainage. Looking for some guidance on how to de...
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Yard drainage - design guidelines for subsurface drainage #891520
Asked January 13, 2025, 12:12 PM EST
My back yard is wet most of the year and would like to install a French drain or similar sub-surface drainage. Looking for some guidance on how to design the system. Primarily depth of trench and spacing between trenches/drain legs. Trying to figure out how far water will travel laterally through the soil to a trench. I want to design it with enough drainage. Don't want to go to the expense and effort to install a system and still have wet parts of the yard. I live in Brimfield township.
Is there a design guide available?
Thanks,
Steve
Portage County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Steve,
At extension we usually work on the soil side of improving drainage, avoiding compaction and adding organic matter to improve soil structure. I can send you more information on this if you are interested. The exception to this is if its for agriculture fields, then OSU does have more info.
But if its a home project, I think the best agency to reach out to would be Portage County Soil and Water Conservation District. I think Lynn Vogel is their stormwater program person, she would be a good person to start with, Lynn Vogel <personal data hidden>. They should have better technical assistance details, and may be more familiar with related laws.
I did find this one-page explanation of a Frenchdrain, which gives some details. https://clermontswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2016/08/frenchdrain.pdf Again, its from a soil and water conservation district.
Let me know if you have other questions I can help with.
At extension we usually work on the soil side of improving drainage, avoiding compaction and adding organic matter to improve soil structure. I can send you more information on this if you are interested. The exception to this is if its for agriculture fields, then OSU does have more info.
But if its a home project, I think the best agency to reach out to would be Portage County Soil and Water Conservation District. I think Lynn Vogel is their stormwater program person, she would be a good person to start with, Lynn Vogel <personal data hidden>. They should have better technical assistance details, and may be more familiar with related laws.
I did find this one-page explanation of a Frenchdrain, which gives some details. https://clermontswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2016/08/frenchdrain.pdf Again, its from a soil and water conservation district.
Let me know if you have other questions I can help with.
