French Drain Case Study: Effective Runoff Solutions in Shellharbour

Addressing Water Ingress Challenges in Shellharbour

In Shellharbour, a homeowner encountered a serious and worsening issue with water ingress. Water from two adjacent properties situated at higher elevations began to flow into their garden and seep beneath the house’s foundation. This intrusion led to substantial damage to the flooring, promoted rising damp, and encouraged mould growth within the property, jeopardising recent renovations.

How Can You Identify the Symptoms of Water Intrusion?

The issue arose due to both surface runoff and subsurface water flowing downhill from the back and side yards of nearby properties. Without an effective drainage solution to intercept this water, it inevitably travelled under the house.

Creating a Reliable Drainage System

CS Plumbing designed and installed a gravity-fed French drain system aimed at capturing and redirecting water before it could compromise the house’s foundation.

This project encompassed several vital components:

A French drain system tailored to collect both surface and subsurface water from neighbouring properties, efficiently directing it through gravity to a concrete pit.
A 100mm PVC pipe extending from the pit to the curb, featuring strategically drilled holes to enable optimal water discharge.
Three new, larger-diameter Colorbond metal downpipes, replacing the previous smaller versions, connected to new 100mm PVC piping leading to the curb.
A retaining wall system constructed along the boundary using concrete sleepers and galvanised steel posts, with auger holes drilled by an excavator to create a robust barrier that holds back the adjacent yard.
Efficient soil removal conducted on-site with a dumper to ensure smooth management of the worksite.

What Effective Measures Can You Implement for Water Management?

The newly implemented system now effectively captures both surface and subsurface water at the property boundary, ensuring it is diverted away from the home. The homeowner has secured a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution that protects the foundation, flooring, and their investment in renovations.