Water from neighbor's yard.

[juice3250]

So I just noticed today that my neighbor has their sump pump emptying out into their yard and because my yard is at a lower level, it all drains into my yard. It's more than just a little bit wet, but standing water and it's very near my kids' swing set. My neighbor just recently had some water issues in their basement so I'm sure she just spent a lot of money fixing it so I'm afraid to go talk to her about. I don't want to offend her. I will probably end up going over to talk to her about, but I need to cool down first. I'm not someone who cares what their lawn looks like but the amount of water that is draining into my yard is quite annoying.

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[Dan_inthewind]

Not sure where you are located but in northern Ontario here you are responsible for your water and cannot shed onto your neighbours land.

Had both sides of me once in the last house each raise their yards to deal with water. Ended up costing them a lot more cause they left me low and had to pay all costs to deal with the water. I ended up with a brand new raised yard at no cost to me. Included drainage pipes and all. Never had a water problem after theory was completed.

Good luck as neighbours are not always easy to deal with.

 

[LB-1911]

So I just noticed today that my neighbor has their sump pump emptying out into their yard and because my yard is at a lower level, it all drains into my yard.

It's more than just a little bit wet, but standing water and it's very near my kids' swing set. My neighbor just recently had some water issues in their basement so I'm sure she just spent a lot of money fixing it so I'm afraid to go talk to her about. I don't want to offend her. I will probably end up going over to talk to her about, but I need to cool down first. I'm not someone who cares what their lawn looks like but the amount of water that is draining into my yard is quite annoying.

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Give the link below a look -
https://www.thenaturalhome.com/drywellinstallation.htm

Might be something for them to consider.

 

[juice3250]

Here are a few pictures. The first one is where the water is coming under my fence. The second one you can see the pipe coming out of my neighbors house and the smaller down spout that's dumping the water into my yard.

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[bdamico]

law on water intrusion varies by state

 

[Zeke]

Another poster with no location. Sorry, but all answers are speculative at best w/o a location.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I look kindly on free irrigation.
It's a lot better than a forced lack of it.

Unless it's a regular thing, it's not going to hurt your structure, nor your fence that sees rain, nor bring termites out.

Do you fear for your basement in your undisclosed location?

 

[bushmechanic]

I know you were just trying to illustrate the situation, but don't be taking pictures of someone else's house, and certainly don't post them on the internet.

As for dealing with her, why don't you work together to find a better solution? Be helpful, as she probably doesn't know what's going on, and couldn't figure out how to fix it if she did.

You might get a new friend out of it.

 

[sublimate]

You'd hate living here. We just got about 2 feet of snow over the last 2 days. And when it melts much of it's going to flow from my yard onto my neighbor's.

 

[Richard Cranium]

It is hard to say with out knowing where you are. Please update your profile.
In most area's it is illegal to dump you water on some one else's property

 

[FreddiFiche]

law on water intrusion varies by state

^^This. And County, and Watershed District.

 

[lakeroadster]

It's always best if you can provide a solution to your neighbor when addressing such an issue.

Is the lay of the land such that your neighbor could easily divert the sump pump drain in another direction to avoid it running onto your property?

Is there a street with storm water management in front of your home?

I know you were just trying to illustrate the situation, but don't be taking pictures of someone else's house, and certainly don't post them on the internet.

Pictures... You mean like Google Earth does, and the government, and drones?

Thus is the world in which we now live in, and in this case the pictures are harmless.

 

[WhiffySpark]

A drywell on the neighbors outlet would be the best solution based on the pictures. If there's no other water issues on your property

But it looks like in front of the playset the ground is sunk down anyway. Did you have water issues before?

 

[bushmechanic]

It's always best if you can provide a solution to your neighbor when addressing such an issue.

Is the lay of the land such that your neighbor could easily divert the sump pump drain in another direction to avoid it running onto your property?

Is there a street with storm water management in front of your home?



Pictures... You mean like Google Earth does, and the government, and drones?

Thus is the world in which we now live in, and in this case the pictures are harmless.

I've had my home obscured from Streetview. They're on the line just as much as anyone else. If you make the demand, they'll pull it; those hipster idiots.

They don't know what they're doing is dangerous. They genuinely believe it's for the greater good. Even so, I do use it to see who I'm buying things from at times.

A neighbor isn't Google, however. You don't want to screw with someone like that. You might come across someone like me, and if you do, they won't be happy about it.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Water runs down hill. Not sure what is behind the fence for you to send it on to. It does appear that your play are is in a low spot.

 

[lakeroadster]

... A neighbor isn't Google, however. You don't want to screw with someone like that. You might come across someone like me, and if you do, they won't be happy about it.

I somehow knew you'd say that.

I am you... kind of. I too am protective of my stuff. But if my neighbor (I know where he lives ) takes a photo of "the downspout and sump pump outlet on my house" and then posts it on the internet... I'm ok with that. I think even "Mother Mary" and the "Doggie On The Porch" is ok with that.

 

[tinmanwpk]

Your neighbor is going out of her way to transfer her water runoff to your yard. That isn't right.

You need to review the local codes to see what is or isn't allowed. Be armed with knowledge when you have your discussion.

I had the same situation where my neighbors runoff drained onto my property, and with heavy storms it contributed to water in my basement. I researched it, it was illegal, and one letter later it was corrected.

 

[KEH]

It looks like the neighbor also has a drain from the roof gutters emptying toward you. I suspect more water will come from the roof than from the basement. It also seems that the neighbor is attempting to get the roof water away from the basement. BTDT I would confer with the neighbor and try to reach an agreeable solution. I would make every effort to keep a dratted bureaucrat out of the equation. If there are any bureaucrats on here I'm sure they are selfless public servants and don't deserve criticism .

If this is a city lot there should be drainage ditches or gutters by the street and it should be possible and legal to divert the water to the street where it would go anyway if no houses were on the two lots in question.

KEH

 

[pablo94sc]

Others said it... location matters. Here you can't restrict the flow of water from someone's property onto yours if that's the natural flow path. You have to provide a means for their rainwater to dissipate if you do. In your case, you just need to tell her her sump is soaking your yard and ask if there is a way to redirect it until a more permanent solution can be had.

 

[upndown]

Talk to her and try to come up with reasonable solution. If the neighborly approach doesn't work, try the old bannana in the tailpipe method on that pipe. That oughta get her attention!

 

[jd_1138]

There's got to be a way to divert the water out to the ditch/swell on the side of the road with an extension. Is there a ditch/swell to the side of her road? Maybe offer to pay for the plastic extension (should be cheap), but if she's ethical she'll pay the $30 or so herself.

 

[juice3250]

I will definitely be talking to her in a timely and respectful manner. When I first posted this, I wasn't too happy. But I know her and she is a very nice woman. I know she isn't purposely trying to flood my yard.

Also, the water is draining away from the street toward the back of our properties. It just so happens that my lot seems to be at a lower level than hers. The lowest part of my lot is in that back corner. I also have clay soil and lots of tree roots back there.

I also have no intention of getting the government involved in this.

In the four years we've lived here, the amount of rainwater coming from her downspout off of her roof has never been an issue.

As for the comments about taking pictures of her house, it was for reference to show what it is I'm dealing with.

Maybe I did put the cart before the horse by posting my issue on here before taking to her about this, but I really want to be prepared to be able to have a solution or some advice to give her.

The previous owners had landscape fabric as well as plastic garden edging and mulch back where our play set is. Whenever it would rain, the ground just in front of the edging would be sopping wet. Mainly because of our clay soil and the root system back there.

Would it even help much to add more dirt to build up the one side near the fence and try to plant more grass to help direct some of the water?

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[PT Doc]

Looks like an older neighborhood. If the same builder built the whole neighborhood then very likely the expectation is that water will move from a higher elevation to lower levels and if that means your neighbors yard, then so be it. If you have standing water then you have grading issues. Here in Colorado the expectation is that there will be 10% grade for 10 feet from the house and a minimum of 2% elsewhere. Grade cannot be greater than 32% on the property. This is for new construction and maintaining the positive slope away from the house is very strongly recommended to prevent issues down the road.

 

[sublimate]

Looks like an older neighborhood. If the same builder built the whole neighborhood then very likely the expectation is that water will move from a higher elevation to lower levels

Unlike those new-fangled neighborhoods where the water moves from lower elevations to higher...

couldn't resist

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I'd pay my neighbor to dump water in my yard! /California

 

[tinmanwpk]

Talk to her and try to come up with reasonable solution. If the neighborly approach doesn't work, try the old bannana in the tailpipe method on that pipe. That oughta get her attention!

I always used potatoes.

 

[zkdiesel]

She has a 2' extension on her sump pump outlet to get it away from house. Not exactly aiming it at you.... Not like she's piping sump to fence line.....
It ***** but probably nothing you can legally do about it since your lower
If ask nicely and tell her situation and offer help in piping the dump somewhere that will disapate the water better or into a better solution that takes it completly away(storm drain, farm field tile)

 

[bdamico]

There's got to be a way to divert the water out to the ditch/swell on the side of the road with an extension. Is there a ditch/swell to the side of her road? Maybe offer to pay for the plastic extension (should be cheap), but if she's ethical she'll pay the $30 or so herself.

Again, depending on state law, this may be illegal. How hard is it to post the state you're in.? First thing they teach in property class in second year of law school is how there are three types of riparian right schemes depending on where you live (if I recall). First thing I'd want to know is what the rule is before I talk to you. A simple google search would reveal whether what she is doing is proper in your vicinity.

 

[wendlwacker]

Around here when there isn't an easy place to divert the water people just illegally plumb it to the city sewer. Not quiet the most ethical but it's effective! If the sump pump is a new deal it might pump like crazy for a period of time and then slow down considerably as the water leve finds an equilibrium around the foundation. Or they could be one of the really unlucky where it will run all the time regardless of how much rain etc falls.

 

[juice3250]

I live in Southeastern Michigan. In Washtenaw County.

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[juice3250]

Around here when there isn't an easy place to divert the water people just illegally plumb it to the city sewer. Not quiet the most ethical but it's effective! If the sump pump is a new deal it might pump like crazy for a period of time and then slow down considerably as the water leve finds an equilibrium around the foundation. Or they could be one of the really unlucky where it will run all the time regardless of how much rain etc falls.

Ours seems to run a lot. Regardless, water doesn't drain in our yard very quickly and the side where the water is only gets a few hours of sun a day.

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[juiced10]

If it were me I would build a dam on my side of the fence. I am sure it wouldn't take too much dirt to keep the water on her side of the fence.

 

[bdamico]

very easy answer in your area http://www.ewashtenaw.org/governmen...nsibilities/drain-law-michigan-landowners.pdf

so this is good to know how to approach knowing she could say f-u

 

[bdamico]

If it were me I would build a dam on my side of the fence. I am sure it wouldn't take too much dirt to keep the water on her side of the fence.

and you might be creating liability for yourself although i am not going to research that issue

 

[juice3250]

If it were me I would build a dam on my side of the fence. I am sure it wouldn't take too much dirt to keep the water on her side of the fence.

If something can't be resolved on her end then I will attempt to build up the ground on my side of the fence. I have a place just a couple of miles from my house where I can get free fill dirt. As much as I want.

I would just be concerned with it slowly eroding away over time. How would I go about making sure it doesn't do that?

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[juice3250]

Our lots are small and dumping sump water outside seems like a stupid thing to do, IMO. But I'm sure it's more expensive to hook it up to the main drain line.

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[zkdiesel]

Our lots are small and dumping sump water outside seems like a stupid thing to do, IMO. But I'm sure it's more expensive to hook it up to the main drain line.

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Where does yours dump?

 

[juice3250]

This article from my Township will explain it. Page 2 specifically. http://superior-twp.org/ordinances/Ordinance 41 Foundation Drains 9-76.pdf

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[pmiranda]

Depending on your laws and deed agreements you might be able to compel her to help fix the drainage issue in your yard, but I'd first look at if you have an inherent drainage issue you would want to fix regardless of her sump pump and gutter drains. It sounds like you generally want the water to flow on back behind both your yards. If you don't want to bring in fill to grade your yard, you could rent a trencher and run one for your yard and one for her drainage and split the bill, then put in perforated pipe to get all that water back where it belongs, cover with filter fabric and gravel, and enjoy.

Those tree roots would be an issue, though... are they in the CRZ for trees you care about?

 

[Fixed]

Some of the responses here just seem crazy to me...

I would just wait until you've cooled down about it, and then just go talk to her. If she's like half the people in my neighbourhood, all she did was hand a check to a contractor and was then happy when they fixed it, it's quite possible she never actually asked what they did to correct her water problems!