DIY: Sump Drainage Trenches

Look at your back yard and try to see where where the water tends to flow. Determine where you want water to flow instead, such as a storm drain. Plan a route from where the water drops to where you want the water to exit.

Contact the electric and gas companies and have them mark the gas and electrical lines. While the trench isn't deep, you don't want to puncture any electrical or gas lines. This can be dangerous and will be an expensive repair.

Dig a ditch across the yard, making sure to avoid any gas or electrical lines, that is about six inches wide and about two feet deep. Follow the path you designed and run the trench the full length of your foundation to the drainage area. Keep the dirt nearby for filling in the trench later. The perforated pipe is made out of rigid plastic, clayware or flexible polyethylene that has holes or slates for the water to seep into. The pipe can be purchased directly from plastics company or at many home improvement stores. The cost depends on the width and length of the pipe sections. Generally, they cost about $100 for a perforated pipe 250 feet in length and 3 to 4 inches wide.

Place a one inch layer of gravel the length of the trench. Drop the perforated pipe into the trench on top of the gravel and run it all the way to the end. The perforations should be face down when placed into the trench.

Add another layer of gravel on top of the pipe until it is about two to three inches from the top for the length of the trench. Cover the last two or three inches with dirt until it is level with the rest of the yard. Water will seep into the ground, be caught by the pipe and redirected to the storm.