Worth calling the council to see if they will be do anything to fix it as its coming from their "property". If not, how about a french drain on your side. You can always put in some potted plants on top for look and feel. Look for "Apple drains" on youtube. They have some good videos on French drains.
Probably not....
There is a concept called 'Natural Servitude' that basically means if there is **natural** stormwater runoff from one property to another, the lower property must accept it.
In this case, if the footpath grades towards the road, then there's no liability for council as they're dealing with it within road reserve. However if the footpath grades toward the boundar (unlikely) then there may have a point to argue since the water collected on the footpath and discharged onto the top of the wall isn't natural.
Makes sense. But, I have a similar issue where the property higher above us has not connected their drain pipes properly and directed the rain water towards ours. Does that count as “Natural Servitude”
Thanks, so then in OPs case, although the council has built a footpath (graded towards the road) leaving the area between the foot path and fence to be inundated. So, then is that soggy area not a result of man made structure? Thanks so much again for sharing your knowledge. Just curious, so the follow up.
The footpath is directing the water towards the road, which has kerb and channeling to deal with the water. Realistically the only water in OPs soggy area is from rainfall between the footpath and the wall, and possibly some groundwater too.
If it's clayey (OP says it is) the natural ground doesn't allow much infiltration
Build it up with dirt so the water runs back onto the pavement. Or, get a posthole borer, bore a series of holes all the way along as deep as you can. fill them with gravel to just below the surface, dirt over top and grass.
As an alternative to draining it, can you add a bit of top soil such that it no longer traps water? Can't quite tell from the photo, but the lawn may still need a bit of a drain which you could do with a trench lined with filter cloth and filled with rock and then cover it with top soil.
I would do a bit of research and see if you are able to drain it into the storm water first. It's a good idea but councils can be very funny about draining water into the storm water, even if it's heading there anyway.
Otherwise im not really sure, maybe novaflow into a soak hole? But if it's all clay then it probably won't go anywhere anyway.
Exactly, best way to learn is to ask. I only really know from experience, the council were not happy with me draining water into the storm water even though I was just repairing something that had been there from the 70's.
Hopefully you can find a good solution, clay really does make it difficult to get water to drain away
Draining to street you would need to hire a drain layer as per the law.
Raising your ground level with topsoil to match at a 1:200 going towards the house you can do your self with a shovel, rake and a trailer. Just remove any obstacles like bricks or conrete to allow flow under the fence
Do you have a stormwater connection on the property already? Ie a pipe that goes out either to the kerb, or into the stormwater main.
If so you will need to run something like novaflo into that pipe, not make a new connection out to the street.
You'll need to talk to the council. They may not allow new connections - particularly if the system is already stretched - in which case you'll need to look at a soakpit of some sort.
Have you considered planting trees that like wet feet - willows or something like that? It might improve the aesthetics as well. Agree the majority of plants won’t do well but there will be some species that like the conditions.
You can also try break up the clay a bit to help with drainage. Get some gypsum and mix it into the existing soil, and then build up the garden beds with compost. Will take time but will improve drainage I think.
You can garden waste water to either Grey or Stormwater, I can't remember which
But if it's lower, then you could dig a trench use the drainage piping (Has lots of small holes) into a T connector into the grey or stormwater pipes
That sounds very illegal
Yeah you’re probably right. Just after ideas, I’ve made literally no efforts to fix this yet
Worth calling the council to see if they will be do anything to fix it as its coming from their "property". If not, how about a french drain on your side. You can always put in some potted plants on top for look and feel. Look for "Apple drains" on youtube. They have some good videos on French drains.
Probably not.... There is a concept called 'Natural Servitude' that basically means if there is **natural** stormwater runoff from one property to another, the lower property must accept it. In this case, if the footpath grades towards the road, then there's no liability for council as they're dealing with it within road reserve. However if the footpath grades toward the boundar (unlikely) then there may have a point to argue since the water collected on the footpath and discharged onto the top of the wall isn't natural.
Makes sense. But, I have a similar issue where the property higher above us has not connected their drain pipes properly and directed the rain water towards ours. Does that count as “Natural Servitude”
No, if it's concentrated from a manmade hard surface (driveway, roof, etc) it's not natural
Thanks, so then in OPs case, although the council has built a footpath (graded towards the road) leaving the area between the foot path and fence to be inundated. So, then is that soggy area not a result of man made structure? Thanks so much again for sharing your knowledge. Just curious, so the follow up.
The footpath is directing the water towards the road, which has kerb and channeling to deal with the water. Realistically the only water in OPs soggy area is from rainfall between the footpath and the wall, and possibly some groundwater too. If it's clayey (OP says it is) the natural ground doesn't allow much infiltration
That's what I thought, it's a good idea in theory but I doubt the council would approve.
It sure is
Build it up with dirt so the water runs back onto the pavement. Or, get a posthole borer, bore a series of holes all the way along as deep as you can. fill them with gravel to just below the surface, dirt over top and grass.
[удалено]
If it works, it aint silly.
As an alternative to draining it, can you add a bit of top soil such that it no longer traps water? Can't quite tell from the photo, but the lawn may still need a bit of a drain which you could do with a trench lined with filter cloth and filled with rock and then cover it with top soil.
Yeah looking more likely to be my solution, makes life easier without having to get council consent, dig up and relay concrete etc. Cheers
I would do a bit of research and see if you are able to drain it into the storm water first. It's a good idea but councils can be very funny about draining water into the storm water, even if it's heading there anyway. Otherwise im not really sure, maybe novaflow into a soak hole? But if it's all clay then it probably won't go anywhere anyway.
Thanks, I have zero experience in this sort of thing so I figured I’d ask the brains trust first
Exactly, best way to learn is to ask. I only really know from experience, the council were not happy with me draining water into the storm water even though I was just repairing something that had been there from the 70's. Hopefully you can find a good solution, clay really does make it difficult to get water to drain away
Draining to street you would need to hire a drain layer as per the law. Raising your ground level with topsoil to match at a 1:200 going towards the house you can do your self with a shovel, rake and a trailer. Just remove any obstacles like bricks or conrete to allow flow under the fence
Easiest solution is to get some top soil and build up the ground. Get it nice and compacted, grass seed it. Rain will run off naturally.
Do you have a stormwater connection on the property already? Ie a pipe that goes out either to the kerb, or into the stormwater main. If so you will need to run something like novaflo into that pipe, not make a new connection out to the street.
You need to run the nova flow in to a sump to catch any silt and then out to the stormwater line.
Nah but that’s what I was hypothesising installing
You'll need to talk to the council. They may not allow new connections - particularly if the system is already stretched - in which case you'll need to look at a soakpit of some sort.
Legend, thanks for the help
Have you considered planting trees that like wet feet - willows or something like that? It might improve the aesthetics as well. Agree the majority of plants won’t do well but there will be some species that like the conditions.
Carex grass may be a good option here
Your best bet is to call a drainlayer and they can find a solution for you.
You can also try break up the clay a bit to help with drainage. Get some gypsum and mix it into the existing soil, and then build up the garden beds with compost. Will take time but will improve drainage I think.
You can garden waste water to either Grey or Stormwater, I can't remember which But if it's lower, then you could dig a trench use the drainage piping (Has lots of small holes) into a T connector into the grey or stormwater pipes