The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon May 23, 2005 1:14 pm**

Hi,
We had a back lawn laid at our new house by the developer but it is water logged when it rains. The soil underneath is clay and it is only the half nearest the house (say to 4m from house) that gets wet - i assume this is because water from the top of the garden runs towards the house - there is a slight gradient (maybe 1 in 50).
We are considering drainage but wonder if we can get the develper to pay ? Any ideas.
If its any help, I dug a 60cm deep test hole about 2m out from the house and filled it with water. Water is still there next day. If I do the same thing a short time after heavy rain, then the hole gets fuller.
If I put in my own drainage, can I lay pipes sloping towards the end of the garden (i.e opposite to surface gradient) to a soakaway or is this a waste of time ?
Thanks,

Peter W

Posted: **Mon May 23, 2005 9:50 pm**

A soakaway would probably not work as the water is not draining into the soil now, and just shift the problem further down the garden.
You could install a land drain and connect it to your SW sewer.
See this page land drainage

Posted: **Sun May 29, 2005 1:25 pm**

You've no chance of forcing the developer to do anything as they will use the standard "new development" excuse, which sounds like a cop out but is actually true.

Basically, this is a new build property and during the construction works, there will have been so much disruption to the previous groundwater flow regime that it is almost inevitable that some ponding or waterlogging will occur for the first couple of years or so. Over time, a new groundwater regime will develop of its own accord and this may alleviate the problem. However, if you are on heavy clay with a shallow water table, you will just have to accept waterlogging as a 'feature' of the property. The developers cannot be expected to create plots with perfectly drained gardens. They love it when it happens, but when they have a wet/clayey plot to start off with, the cost of remediation work would make their properties unreasonably expensive.

Basically, I would leave the plot for at least 12 months and see how it goes. You could go to a lot of trouble and expense installing land drainage only to find that in two years time, the network is actually parching the ground. Give the groundwater a chance to re-establish a natural regime and then decide on a strategy once you're aware of what effect nature is having on the plot.

Edited By Tony McC on 1117369578

Posted: **Mon May 30, 2005 9:28 pm**

Thanks Tony,
Some much needed and very useful advise. My neighbour is laughing now because his garden is nice and dry, but after speaking to him, turns out it cost Â£1100. So, I think I will take your advice and wait a while. Have since also found out that the land was flooded due to a nearby blocked stream during development, so I assume that would not have helped the local water table that much either ! Will keep fingers crossed and hope that it sorts itself out ! On the other hand, when this land was just a field, one of the locals told me that is was always boggy after heavy rain.
Thanks again.

The Brew Cabin

Drainage of back lawn - Legal repsonsibility