French Drain Case Study: Managing Runoff in Shellharbour

Resolving Water Ingress Challenges in Shellharbour

In Shellharbour, one homeowner encountered a serious and worsening problem with water ingress. Water from two adjacent properties, situated at a higher elevation, began to flow into their garden and infiltrate beneath the foundation of their house. This intrusion of water led to considerable damage to the flooring, promoted rising damp, and encouraged mould growth inside the property, jeopardising recent renovations.

How Can You Identify Signs of Water Intrusion?

The issue originated from 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 made its way beneath the house.

Creating a Reliable Drainage System

CS Plumbing designed and installed a gravity-fed French drain system tailored to capture and redirect water before it could reach the home’s foundation.

The project included several critical components:

A French drain system specifically designed to gather both surface and subsurface water from neighbouring properties, efficiently channeling it through gravity into a concrete pit.
A 100mm PVC pipe extending from the pit to the curb, featuring strategically drilled holes in the curb to ensure optimal water discharge.
Three new, larger-diameter Colorbond metal downpipes, replacing the original smaller ones, connected to new 100mm PVC piping leading to the curb.
A retaining wall system constructed along the boundary, utilising concrete sleepers and galvanised steel posts, with auger holes drilled using an excavator to create a robust barrier to hold back the adjacent yard.
Efficient on-site soil removal executed with a dumper to ensure streamlined management of the worksite.

What Measures Can You Implement for Effective Water Management?

The newly installed system now effectively captures both surface and subsurface water at the property boundary, ensuring it is directed away from the home. The homeowner now benefits from a resilient, low-maintenance solution that safeguards the foundation, flooring, and their investment in renovations.