How Do I Stop My Neighbors Water From Draining In My Yard?

Some of the most effective ways of preventing your neighbor from this regard are- dumping dirt along the fence or building a French drain or dry well. Nothing is more upsetting to a house owner than water draining from the neighbors right into the yard. It can potentially ruin your garden, water bed, and even your driveway if severe enough.  

How Do I Stop My Neighbors Water From Draining In My Yard

Water draining from neighbors is one of the most common issues for conflicts. But with some simple steps, you can easily take care of this problem.

Dirt Pile 

Generally, water from the neighbor’s garden or yard drains toward the fence and causes water to stand along the fence. One way to solve this is by dumping piles of dirt or sand along your fence to raise the flooding area. It will hopefully stop the water flow from gushing under the fence.

Dumping sands in a line right along your fence should do the work. It will fill the gaps in between the fence and also heighten your side of the yard. You can also use gutter material, vinyl, or roofing material to raise the bed. Then just use a few bags of dirt to cover the materials from the top.

This creates a sort of speed bump so your neighbors’ water can’t pass through or under the fence, and will glide away from your fence. 

Grading

Another reason that can cause water to drain in from outside is if the land is lopsided or not leveled. In this case, you will need to grade the yard to level the ground. Grading is generally done according to the grading plan so you should probably get professional help to get it done.

Make A Route

If the water is gushing in through one specific part of the yard, you can make a small drain to re-route the water to a natural drainage system. This way you can also channel the water to somewhere where you need it. For example, this water can be used for irrigation.  

How To Stop Water Runoff In Yard

Water runoffs can overwhelm the area with water and cause flooding. It is also one of the many reasons for damaged foundations and property. So, here’s a few ways you can stop water runoff in the yard.

Dry Well

A dry well is a few inches diameter hole in the ground filled with gravel. It collects water runoff and prevents flooding. Identify the area of the water runoff and make a dry well. 

French Drain

You can build a French drain as it is also an effective solution for water runoff. It’s a drain that collects the runoff water and directs them downhill or towards a natural drainage system. The drain is filled with gravel and covered with soil afterward.

Catch Runoff

This method will only work for stormwater runoff. So, you just install a basin or barrel so the stormwater is caught in it. You can use this water for other purposes such as watering the plants.

Neighbor Pumping Water Onto My Property

One of the most common problems house owners face regarding neighbors is water flooding inside. It can potentially damage your beautiful pristine lawn and property. The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbors about it. Because many times they don’t understand the problem without knowing it.

If the problem is not solved by mutual discussion and they continue to pump water into your property, you can take legal action against them. It is against the law to pump water against someone else’s property without their permission. Before that, make sure to do some research about the local ordinance regarding water usage.

However, many house owners tend to be unwilling about legal actions as it can create more conflicts with the neighbors in the future. In that case, you can direct that water to somewhere you need it and use it for your benefit. 

Neighbors Yard Is Higher Than Mine

If your neighbors’ yard is higher than you, you are most likely to face some problems for that. Not only that the rainwater from your neighbors’ yard will drain into yours, but also any kind of disposed water in their property will cause flooding in your property.

You can discuss the situation with your neighbor to level out the height of the yard. So, the rainwater will spread out evenly on both of your properties. This is the most effective solution. However, if the other party is not up for a discussion, then you can just take care of your side of the fence.

Dumping sand or dirt to make your yard higher to match your neighbors may work. However, if you don’t want to reform the whole yard, just raise the side of the fence so it can block water coming from outside. 

Standing Water Along Fence Line

Puddles of standing water along the fence line are most likely to ruin your gardens, kill the plants and most probably ruin your foundations if severe enough. It can be caused by many things. So, figure out the reason and fix it accordingly.

Regrading

Faulty grading is one of the common reasons for standing water. In this case, regrade the affected area to level out the land. So, the water will spread out evenly and eventually be absorbed into the soil.

De-thatching

Plant debris, fallen leaf, and grass clipping clog the surface of the lawn. As a result, the water can’t be absorbed into the soil and cause water puddles. Use a de-thatcher to clean the area accordingly. You can also a mower or a rake for cleaning the surface.

Neighbors Sprinklers Flooding My Yard

Sprinklers are a great measure to keep your lawn green and pristine. But it’s very upsetting if a neighbor’s water sprinklers keep flooding your side of the property. There are some ways to solve this problem.

Compromise

Talk to your neighbor about the issue to get to a solution. Hopefully, they will compromise and reset their sprinklers accordingly so the water doesn’t invade your property and stay inside their boundary.

Legal Action

According to the common law, no homeowner is allowed to artificially channel water in such a way that causes damage to neighboring property. However, it is a common right if the drainage water naturally flows downhill to any neighboring and without any additional aid. 

In this case, sprinklers are an artificial way to direct water. So, you can legally confront them about the issue.

Using The Water

Another way you can avoid legal conflict with your neighbor and still solve the problem is using the water for yourself. Your neighbor is just wasting money and water by overpassing your boundary. So, just remove your sprinklers from the area and use the water from your neighbor to water the lawn. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I re-grade the yard?

Ans: Generally, Grading is done by professionals according to the subdivision grading plane of the town. However, if it’s allowed you can do it yourself with a little help.

Q. how to stop water runoff from neighbors yard?

Ans: We talked multiple ways here in this post to assist you the best.

Conclusion

Managing excessive runoff from your neighbor’s yard is essential to prevent soil erosion and the negative impacts of excess water on your property. Installing a French drain pipe offers a practical solution for water drainage concerns. This system, which combines a perforated pipe, landscape fabric, and a shallow ditch, works efficiently to redirect excess water runoff away from your area. The strategically placed catch basins, covered by landscape fabric, collect water flowing from the neighboring yard, ensuring it doesn’t cause soil erosion.

The installation of a sump pump might be necessary when dealing with substantial amounts of water. This system is particularly helpful when the French drain pipe cannot solely handle the influx. The sump pump helps in dealing with excess water by pumping it out and redirecting it to safer locations where it can be absorbed by the ground naturally.

Moreover, consider incorporating plants that absorb water quickly and efficiently to supplement your drainage system. This natural approach can support your technical efforts, ensuring your yard stays dry and healthy despite the potential challenges from the water drainage of the neighbor’s yard. Altogether, these combined strategies should help you effectively combat the problem of excess water runoff from neighboring properties, protecting your home and preserving your landscape.