Building a Dry Creek Bed (Pipe/Drainage Issues)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Howdy folks!

My mother, bless her heart, believes she has some drainage issues in the backyard and would like for me to help her construct a dry creek bed in order to combat the problem. I don’t really mind doing the work but there are two pipes in the path of the proposed dry creek bed. The first is the sewage pipe that runs from the house to the septic tank and the second is the pipe that runs from the well to the house. (Don’t worry. The septic tank/filter field is both sufficient distant and lower than the well that contamination isn’t an issue.)

The septic pipe starts out about 12 inches underground near the house and will of course be graded downward towards the septic system. I am assuming at this point that the pipe will only be about 12 inches underground.

The pipe from the well is an unknown number of inches below ground. It freezes here in Arkansas on occasion so I would like to think that it was a reasonable depth, however, given that the previous owner half-assed repaired or modified everything else in the house, I will not assume that it is at it’s proper depth.

So the dry creek bed is going to have a catch basin at the top that’s about a foot deep (not too far from the sewer pipe) and from what I’ve read the creek bed should be put in at a 2:1 ratio width to depth. So if it’s a foot wide then it needs to be 6 inches deep.

Here are my biggest worries:

1: I’m going to end up with a lot of gravel and rocks sitting on top of one or more of my pipes. If I’ve only got six inches of dirty between my pipes and those rocks I’m worried that the pipe could get damaged.

2: I’m worried that the well pipe will be completely in the way and I’ll have to go under it. But given that a dry creek bed is uncovered the pipe will be exposed. Even if I were to put insulation on the pipe I’m not sure that would be enough and at the end of the day it would still look like shit.

I’m concerned because I think this will adversely affect the resale value of her home. People will come by, look at it and say “what the fuck did you do to the back yard?” and walk away. Resale value is certainly an issue as she won’t be here for the next 30 years.

Any ideas? I’ve tried looking up information on landscaping a dry creek bed but none of them have mentioned what to do when coming across pipes.

2

I’m no expert, but your concerns certainly make sense.

3

having surface water drainage above either of those could be bad. a high volume of surface water could travel down to those pipes an provide (eventually) an easier path to the house. water could also flow to the well contaminating it or to the septic adding extra burden.

4

I’d find out what the frost depth is in your area. For example, in Wisconsin it’s 4 feet. You’d never run a water or drain pipe closer to grade then that. What you’re doing is essentially bringing it right up to the surface since the rocks aren’t going to insulate it at all and wrapping it in pipe wrap isn’t going to count.
My guess is that the first time you good a good freeze that last more then a few hours you’re going to be tearing up your dry creek bed and repairing the main…or the city is going to be pulling it up for you with a backhoe if it’s on their side of your meter.

BTW, I assume I’m not the only one who was curious about what a dry creek bed was. I assume it’s big rocks a few feet deep and meant to collect water and leech it into the earth over the hours or days following heavy rain. Basically, a retention pond filled with rocks (that fully drains between uses).

5

I’d put in a French drain with a water drain box.
http://www.nashvilledrainage.com/images/nashville-drain-box.jpg

that way you can drain the area where water pools. Then leech it out into the ground. You should be able to avoid digging where your pipes are.

heres a finished drain.
http://www.advancedpressureandgutter.com/sites/default/files/users/user6/Inground%20Drain%20box.JPG

6

Thanks for the suggestions and sorry about the late reply. I’d love for her to get a French drain installed, she’s actually getting one installed in another area of the yard, but she doesn’t want to spend the extra $2,000 to get it done in the backyard. Personally, I think 2k seems like a decent price for something that will actually be done by a professional rather than whatever we can Frankenstein on our own.