Sizing culvert/tile

[Doc_Possum]

I need to build a driveway over a drainage lull in my backyard. It’s dry 95% of the time, but can get about 10-12“ deep during heavy rains.

My neighbors on each side of me have different sized culverts. Each is about 40‘ from my property line and my property is only 125’ across there.

The neighbor upstream of me has a culvert that is too small and the water goes over the lane during hard rains, but the lull isn’t very deep there so not much water goes across.

The neighbor’s driveway on the downstream side is about the same depth and his road sits up higher. It is quite a bit larger and seems to drain well enough.

Is it safe to say I should use the same size or maybe larger than the downstream neighbor? I don’t want to screw up the flow in my yard or my neighbors’ and need some direction to figure this out if anyone could help.

 

[dfiler2]

I would call your county office and talk to them, they should be able to help with sizing and around here they will sell you the culvert for their cost or close to it.

 

[jack stand]

Doing what you're downstream neighbor is successful with makes perfect sense of you.

 

[Doc_Possum]

I would call your county office and talk to them, they should be able to help with sizing and around here they will sell you the culvert for their cost or close to it.

This isn't near their road so they won't help unfortunately.

Here's the layout. The flooding in the picture below is from the worst flooding we had about 6 years ago. I don't have the chain link anymore.

 

[LOW1]

Is that a bike path in the photo? I can see trouble if you just dump your water on it. I suggest talking with your uphill and downhill neighbors and coordinate a plan. Maybe the city/county has an engineer that would give you input.

Your situation is so fact specific that general advice is not enough.

 

[wssix99]

The neighbor upstream of me has a culvert that is too small and the water goes over the lane during hard rains, but the lull isn’t very deep there so not much water goes across.

The neighbor’s driveway on the downstream side is about the same depth and his road sits up higher. It is quite a bit larger and seems to drain well enough.

You should plan for the maximum rainfall your area is likely to see. (Obviously your upstream neighbor is not sized properly. Your downstream neighbor may be good or they could have issues at some point in the future.)

You need to call an engineer. They will have the water data for your area and get you sized properly so that no matter if your neighbors have problems - you'll be fine.

 

[kbs2244]

it is hard to go too large with a drain tile

 

[nadogail]

In the city where I went to High school culverts were often made of 55 gallon drums that had been welded together, End To End, used drums were available for the hauling and 6013 electrode was inexpensive.

 

[KEH]

Agree with kbs2244.

The 55 gallon culvert system Is interesting. Its good only in a dry climate. East of the Mississippi and in the coastal PNW one of these would rust out in a few years.

KEH

 

[acer66]

it is hard to go too large with a drain tile

We had one of those major not anymore once in life storm/floodings a few years ago and a lot of the damage is still worked on.

A lot of people rebuild their stuff well oversized while at it and I would do the same.