Drainage concerns on private property are the property owner's responsibility to address; however, the Storm Water Management Department will inspect private property problems at the owner's request. Call 732-7880, or email storm@co.clermont.oh.us.
Helpful Tips to Prevent Drainage Problems
Remember to keep all swales, driveway culverts, storm sewer inlets and catch basins clear of silt, yard waste, and other debris. If storm water is not allowed to flow freely through these conveyances, serious drainage or flooding problems could result.
To help property owner’s address drainage issues around the house, the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District developed the following guidelines for surface drainage around your home:
- The ground elevation around the house should be a minimum of 18 inches higher than the street.
- The soil around the house should be graded so that it slopes away from the house at least 6 inches in the first 10 feet.
- All lots should have some form of swale or storm drain on the property to take surface water away from the house.
- Unless directly connected to a storm sewer, all down spouts should be extended on top or below the ground at least 10 feet away from the house. It is best to use solid plastic pipe for extending down spouts.
- The front half of the house and lot should be graded to drain to the street and the back half of the lot and house should be graded to drain to the side and rear yard swales.
- Plant a good grass cover on the lot and in the drainage swales to prevent erosion.
- On sloping lots, construct a diversion (mound) to take the water around the rear of the yard to a drainage swale or catch basin.
- Do not plant willows or other water loving trees to drain your problem areas. They will cause problems in the future.
- In many cases, re-grading or filling with a little more topsoil will eliminate low spots. But in some instances, re-grading or filling will only move the problem somewhere else. Before proceeding with re-grading, examine where the water would go and determine if any new problems would be created.