How Poor Drainage Damages Driveways, Septic Systems, and Foundations in WV

Poor drainage is not always obvious.

It may present itself as a soft spot alongside the driveway. A few inches of standing water in the yard. A ditch turning to mud. A culvert backing up when it rains heavily. Water running down the driveway and then disappearing after the downpour ends. Poor drainage is easily dismissed.

When the water has found a path of least resistance, it rarely stops flowing. Water has momentum and will follow that path until it has enough energy to change course. One poorly addressed drainage issue can lead to driveway washouts, septic damage, damp crawl spaces, foundation problems, erosion, and yard damage.

Throughout the Beckley, Glen Daniel, Raleigh County, and the nearby Southern WV

region, poorly graded sites, clay soils, gravel driveways, rural septic systems,

runoff, and aging infrastructure contribute to drainage issues on many properties.

Built Right Construction Inc. offers excavation, grading, drainage, driveway, septic,

culvert, and site preparation services throughout Southern WV. When water is not

flowing as it should on your property, this is why it matters, and what you should

know.

Poor drainage issues are often multifaceted

Water will not take the desired route despite manmade boundaries.

It does not recognize the driveway, yard, septic area, and foundation as different.

Water will flow wherever gravity allows, and that may be along or through several

different points on the property.

Poor drainage can start on the hillside, run through the ditch, undermine the

driveway, cause a soft spot along the street, back up in the culvert, and pool near

the house or septic tank.

The EPA has information on stormwater runoff here. The EPA talks about runoff as

water from rainfall or melted snow that does not infiltrate the ground but flows

over the surface, causing erosion. That erosion can carry sediment with it, and

that sediment can be many things depending on the property. On a WV property

with gravel, mulched, or wooded areas, erosion can carry away gravel, mulch,

and dirt.

Impacts to driveways from poor drainage

Driveways are often the first order of business when it comes to drainage issues.

This is not surprising since the driveway has to handle the water flow while being

driven on as well. Water running down the driveway, crossing it at an unintended

place, or pooling on the edges can erode the surface.

It may start as a few ruts and end with gravel tumbling down the banks. The

driveway is constantly rebuilt with new gravel after a particularly rainy season.

Ruts return, gravel erodes, and the repairs grow more extensive.

The following are some signs that a driveway is suffering from drainage issues:

• Ruts that appear after rainy weather

• Gravel at the bottom of the driveway

• Water crossing the driveway surface

• Soft spots or muddy areas on the edge of the driveway

• Ditches filled with gravel

• A backed up or overflowing culvert

Often times the issue is not the gravel driveway itself. It is the grade or ditches or culvert or a combination of the three that fails to properly address the water flow.

For more information on drainage and gravel driveways, you may want to review

Why Your Gravel Driveway Washes Out in WV and Fixing Soft Spots and Ruts in a

WV Driveway.

Impacts to septic systems from poor drainage

Septic tanks require suitable soil in order to function.

This is one reason why proper drainage is so vital to a rural WV property. Water from roofs, driveways, hillside, and other areas should not be directed toward the septic tank. Water can cause the ground to remain saturated which can impact the ability of the septic system to process waste.

EPA Septic System guidelines explain that care of the drainfield is paramount to the care of the entire septic system. Diverting excess water from the septic system is necessary because water can overwhelm the system and cause backups.

Poor drainage issues affecting septic tanks can include:

• Wet areas around the septic system

• Water pooled on the ground after a rainstorm

• Water crossing a drainfield

• Downspouts flowing into the septic area

• Water from a driveway flowing into the septic area

• Ditches flowing into the septic area

Septic systems should be considered when planning new grading or drainage

projects on a property. This is especially important when reviewing Class I vs

Class II Septic Systems in WV since terrain, soil, and drainage requirements can

influence the choice of a system.

Impacts to foundations from poor drainage

Water around a foundation should never be taken lightly.

Water running down a slope toward the house can cause the ground to erode.

Water will pool alongside the foundation and eventually find its way into the

basement or crawlspace. Water can cause the soil to erode around the home

and result in additional issues like the settling of the foundation and wet areas

around the porches, garages, and patios.

The Building Science Education resource on final grade discusses the importance

of having a slope away from the foundation and how other options such as swales can help if that is not possible. It is good to remember that grading issues are not the only reason for water around the basement. It is just one factor that should be carefully reviewed before jumping to conclusions. If any of the following apply to your home, it may have drainage issues affecting the foundation:

• Water flowing towards the house

• Mulch or soil flowing towards the house

• Low spots near the house

• Wet basement or crawlspace after a rainstorm

• Downspouts emptying near the house

• Water pooling near porches, garages, or patios

If this sounds familiar, you may want to review Signs You Need Regrading Around

Your Home in WV and How to Redirect Water Away From Your House on a Sloped

Lot in WV.

Challenges with slopes in Southern WV

Water on flat land may pool.

On a slope it will flow. This is not always a bad thing. If the grade is correct, water

will flow away from the house, the driveway, the septic tank, and the yard while

still maintaining its energy. Water that is unrestricted can accelerate down

slopes, gaining speed and energy. It can erode large amounts of soil before

emptying into a ditch, creek, or other structure.

According to the National Weather Service, steep, mountainous, or hilly areas can

produce rapidly flowing water due to the downhill movement. This is one reason

why drainage issues can become immediate concerns in the Southern WV

region. Water finds the path of least resistance and flows down slopes. If a

channel has been carved out by water, it will continue to provide a path for the

water.

If your property includes a steep slope that is already eroded, you may want to

review Retaining Wall or Regrade? Best Fix for a Steep, Eroding Yard in WV.

Addressing drainage concerns

There is no single drainage solution that fits every yard.

Some properties will benefit from regrading while others may need swales.

French drains are another option but they tend to be more involved. For areas

where water tends to gather, a catch basin may be necessary. Ditch work may be

needed in addition to culvert installation or repair. A blend of riprap, outlet

protection, and catch basins may be the best option to stabilize large areas prone to erosion.

The correct drainage solution will be based on a few factors:

• Where the water is coming from

• How it is flowing

• Where it needs to go

Swales tend to be best for surface water, while a French drain can help with water

that is sitting below the surface. Catch basins can collect water that is pooling in

a low area and channel it through a larger pipe. Culverts are necessary when

water must be able to flow underneath a driveway. For a more in-depth review of

these topics, you may want to review Swale, French Drain, or Catch Basin? Picking

the Right Drainage Fix for a WV Yard and Before You Replace a Culvert, Check the

Ditches Too.

Things to do and not do with poor drainage

Do not ignore the water pooling on your property. Do not continually add gravel to

a driveway that is washing out. Do not allow water to flow towards the septic tank.

Do not build up the dirt around the foundation without knowing the grade. Do not

install a drain without knowing where the water will end up. Do not block a ditch

without providing an alternate route for the water. Do not wait for the erosion to

get to the driveway, house, or septic area before addressing the issue. The goal is

not to move water away from one area, but to redirect it to a stable location

where it will not cause additional issues.

Drainage costs

Drainage costs will be dictated by the specifics of the project as well as the area

being addressed.

Some of the factors that influence costs include:

• Drainage area

• Grade

• Amount of excavation

• Soil types

• Ditch cleaning or excavation

• Culvert repair or replacement

• Pipe, stone, or catch basin installation

• Riprap or outlet protection

• Driveway repairs

• Septic protections

• Equipment and cleanup

A minor grading correction may not cost much at all. A complete revision of the drainage on a property suffering from driveway washouts, wet soil, foundation concerns, and culvert damage will be considerably more involved.

When Built Right reviews a drainage problem

When Built Right reviews a drainage problem, we look beyond the wet spot. We

review the entire drainage system including the driveway, home, septic system,

yard, slope, ditches, and culverts. Sometimes it is a simple matter of correcting

the grade or repairing a damaged ditch. Other times it requires a combination of

grading, drainage, and culvert work as well as erosion control and protection. We

review the entire property to ensure that everything is properly protected.

FAQ: Poor drainage on WV properties

Can poor drainage damage my driveway?

Driveways can be negatively impacted in a number of ways by poor drainage.

Water can cause ruts and soft spots that erode the surface of the driveway.

Gravel can wash away, leaving large holes that require repair. Poor drainage can

also cause erosion on the shoulder of the driveway, particularly if the driveway is

built on a slope.

Can drainage issues affect my septic system?

Septic systems can be negatively impacted by excess water on the property.

Water can overload the system or cause the ground to become too saturated.

Water from the roof, driveway, hillside, or yard should be directed away from

septic tanks and drain fields as much as possible.

Should water around my house slope away?

Water should slope away from the house foundation. When that is not possible,

additional drainage should be installed to help move the water away from the

home.

What is the best way to address drainage on a wet yard?

The best way to address drainage on a wet yard depends on where the water is

coming from and where it needs to go. If the water is pooling on the surface of

the ground, drainage may be necessary. If there is water underneath the ground,

a french drain may be a good option. For larger areas of standing water and low

spots, a catch basin could be used to collect and redirect the water.

Can one drainage problem affect multiple areas on my property?

One drainage problem can affect multiple areas on your property. Water can flow

down the driveway, eat into the hillside, cause soft spots on the street, back up in

a ditch or culvert, and pool near the house or septic tank.

When should I contact a drainage contractor?

Contact a drainage contractor when water is consistently pooling, erosion is

occuring, the driveway is washing out, the yard is staying wet, or water is flowing

towards the house or septic tank.

Do you need help addressing poor drainage in Southern

WV?

If poor drainage is impacting your driveway, yard, septic tank, or home in Beckley,

Glen Daniel, Raleigh County, or the surrounding areas, Built Right Construction Inc. can help. We offer grading, excavation, drainage and erosion control, swales, culverts, driveway repair, septic support, and site preparation throughout Southern WV. Let us begin with a thorough review of your site to determine the best way to redirect the water back to where it needs to go.