I have a Drainage Issue

A drainage issue can involve standing water, basement leaks, or soggy lawns. The first step is to identify the source of the problem and then implement appropriate solutions. Common issues include compacted or bare soil, “heavy” soil that doesn’t infiltrate water well, improper grading, or poor maintenance of drainage swales.

Identifying the Issue

• Yard Drainage: Look for standing water, mushy areas, or basement leaks. Check your development plat to determine if the standing water or soggy soils are in a wetland or are poorly draining soils. When the final development plat is approved, the County requires known wetland areas to be identified on the plat.  Note that over time, wetlands can disappear, develop, or increase in size as watershed conditions change.
• Drainage in swales and channels: Observe if drainage channels are backing up or running slowly.
  
  
• Soil Type: Consider the type of soil (clay, sand) and its impact on drainage. You can find out more about soils on the USDA Web Soil Survey here: https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/
  
  
• Compaction and/or poor stand of vegetation: Check for compacted soil and areas where grass isn’t growing well.  Compacted soils can hinder water absorption and inhibit groundcover growth.  Vegetation such as grass helps promote infiltration through its root systems.

DIY Solutions

• Aeration: Breaks up compacted soil and allows water to drain better.  Aeration also helps keep your grass healthy.
• Amend Soil: Keeping your soil healthy promotes grass growth and infiltration. Test your soil chemistry once every one to two years to determine if soil amendments are needed. You can get your soil tested for free (or really cheap!) through the NC Department of Agriculture (find out more here https://www.ncagr.gov/Divisions/Agronomic-Services/soil-testing).
• Regrading: Slope the ground away from the house to prevent water from pooling.
• Extend Downspouts: Direct water away from the house.
• Remove Debris: Ensure water can flow freely by removing obstructions from channels, downspouts, and storm drain inlets.

 

Ditches, Easements, and Drainage on your Lot

 

 

 

Who maintains roadside ditches and drainage on my lot?

Ditches on private property are maintained by the Homeowner’s Association or the property owner.

NCDOT maintains roadside ditches on state-owned roads.  For concerns or questions about roadside ditches, please contact the NCDOT Maintenance yard:

NCDOT Johnston County Maintenance Yard
2861 Us 70 W.
Smithfield, 27577

(919) 209-1110
https://apps.ncdot.gov/dot/directory/authenticated/UnitPage.aspx?id=1819

 

More information regarding road maintenance questions can be found at https://www.ncdot.gov/contact/Pages/road-maintenance-questions.aspx

 

Who is responsible for maintaining drainage easements?

Drainage easements are intentionally created areas designed for the passage of surface water runoff. Individual property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any portion of a recorded drainage easement that is located on their property. For example, if a 20' drainage easement is located straight down a property line, each property owner is responsible for the 10' of the easement that is on his or her property. Easement issues are a private civil matter.

Does the County maintain channels?

The County doesn’t maintain any drainage channels, pipes, etc.  Often, drainage complaints are related to stormwater runoff flowing from one property onto a lower property, which is considered a private civil matter.  Drainage Law in North Carolina is based on Common Law and court precedent. The law states that the person on the lower property must receive and pass the water from the higher property. Also, specific statutes prohibit the blockage of streams, drainageways and easements that remove water from higher elevations. For more specific information on the statutes go to www.ncga.state.nc.us