Fixing a backyard drainage problem with new collector, sump and pump

This customer’s walkout basement home had an unfortunate design characteristic when it was first built many years ago. The backyard was not only below grade but also the low point of the surrounding terrain. This would cause rain, runoff and meltwater to pool in the backyard, making it a soggy and unusable for weeks at a time (not to mention a health hazard and potential threat to the home’s foundation). The fix was pretty straightforward since the front yard at street level was above grade with a gentle slope to the neighbourhood drainage ditch nearby. So we excavated a pit at the low point and levelled it with a layer of gravel. I then fitted it with 24″ corrugated drain pipe set vertically, which I had perforated with a saw so it could collect water. I then installed a winterized pump and float switch drawing power from the home connected to discharge piping we had trenched and lined to run up the side of the house, expelling into the storm drain/ditch. The riser was later landscaped along with the rest of the yard to blend in nicely and, of course, make the yard entirely usable again.