Homeowners throughout the county occasionally experience the unpleasantness of flooded basements, wet yards and malfunctioning septic systems. Solving the problems created by surface runoff and poorly drained soils will not only improve your property and protect your investment, but will also yield benefits to streams and rivers.

Slow soil permeability commonly contributes to drainage problems. Restricting heavy foot traffic on your lawn during wet periods helps prevent soil compaction. If your home site has a dense layer of clay, you can improve a small, low lying wet spot by digging a small trench through the clay layer and filling it with sand or gravel.

Larger wet areas may require installation of 4- to 6-inch subsurface drains at a depth of 2 to 5 feet. Backfill the trench with 6 to 12 inches of AASHTO No. 57 to within 1 foot of the ground surface. Use topsoil to fill up to the surface layer. For soils that lack cohesive properties, a filter fabric around the tile is recommended to prevent movement of soil particles into the drain.

If a seasonal high water table, or level below which the soil is saturated with water, is creating difficulties for your home, possible remedies include installing drains around the outside walls or beneath the basement floor. Special care should be taken in lowering the water table under the basement floor because unequal settlement on some soils, especially slow-draining silts and clays, may crack the walls.

Where a high water table affects a limited portion of your lawn, a small excavated pond could provide an interesting solution. Remember to always check state and local regulations concerning pond construction.

A system of berms and swales — shallow depressions — may be designed to channel surface runoff.

Your yard should be graded to convey surface water away from your house. A minimum grade of 1 foot per 100 feet — 1 percent of slope — is usually adequate. Good gutters and well-functioning downspouts are also essential.

If your home is in a floodplain, severe problems may occur when streams overflow during heavy rainfall or snow melt. Often, community wide measures are necessary to provide adequate property protection.

Even in upland areas, flooding can occur if your home is located in the path of natural drainage ways or on a site that is lower than the surrounding area. In some instances, measures to remedy this potential hazard will require the cooperation of several homeowners.

Improving drainage becomes essential if your site includes a natural spring or seep. Subsurface drains — made of clay tile or perforated plastic, for example — should be properly installed to collect the groundwater and divert it. Be sure to check your local township, borough or city building codes for approved materials and other stormwater drainage regulations.