Building With Style: Getting Rid of Surface Water

Once you have dealt with groundwater
and water flowing onto a site
from elsewhere (see Building With
Style, 12/95), you must tend to water
originating on-site: rainwater and
piped-in water.
Why We Have a Problem
Drainage problems are created by the
act of building. The major impact of
building is reduced absorption — my
shorthand for the combination of
absorption and evaporation. Buildings,
paving, and lawn absorb much less
moisture than naturally vegetated land.
In addition, we often wish to correct
the natural drainage to eliminate
soggy places or to divert water from
areas we want to use or build on. Step
one is to deal with water coming off
the roof.
To Gutter or Not to Gutter
Gutters are a