French drains help improve soil drainage, preventing excess water from causing damage to your property. Dry wells, however, have a more direct environmental benefit by promoting groundwater recharge and reducing the burden on local sewer systems.
The downsides to dry wells are that they can get backed up by leaves and other run-off debris. They can also get overwhelmed during a heavy storm or if your property has a high water table.
Swales: A Natural Solution
They're a great option if you're looking for a more natural, eco-friendly alternative to French drains. A swale is typically lined with grass or vegetation that helps slow down and absorb water.
Dry well installation costs $3,126 on average, but it often ranges from $1,344 to $5,167 depending on the materials you choose and if you decide to hire a pro.
Drawbacks of Dry Creek Beds
Capacity Limitations – Dry creek beds can't handle large volumes of water as well as French drains. They aren't effective in poor drainage conditions.
On average, a French drain will cost about $20-$30 per linear foot to install, while a dry creek bed costs around $5-$7 per linear foot.
A French drain is an underground system that collects and redirects water through a perforated pipe, preventing it from accumulating in undesired areas. On the other hand, a dry creek bed mimics the look of a natural stream, allowing water to flow along a designated path and away from your property.
Dry wells are seen as the much more long-term solution, as they can last up to 30 years with proper care. French drains last a long time as well, but have an average lifespan closer to 10-15 years. If you want to kick this can as far down the road as possible, stick with the dry well.
Again, if the well runs dry due to a covered peril, which is quite unlikely, you'd be covered. However, the most common cause of a dry well is that the spring used as a water source has run dry. In this scenario, it would likely be due to natural causes and you wouldn't be covered.
Some of these wells can penetrate the groundwater table and therefore contain standing water which provides a place for mosquitoes to breed. Dry wells in risk areas known to have standing water and/or a mosquito breeding problem should be treated with larvicide.
Clay soil has poor permeability, meaning it doesn't allow water to pass through easily. In such cases, the effectiveness of a French drain may be limited as the water may struggle to drain away from the area efficiently. French drains may not be suitable for areas with high water tables.
French drains are best suited for properties with moderate to severe water drainage issues, particularly in areas with heavy rain or poor soil drainage.
An unmaintained dry well may: • Cause flooding on other areas of your property if the rainwater is not able to flow into the dry well. Cause rainwater to pool on the surface and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Require more frequent and expensive repairs.
No dry well shall be located closer than 5 feet (1.5 m) of a property line nor closer than 10 feet (3 m) to any building unless approved by the Building Official. Each drainage connection to a dry well shall be made at the top center of the lid by the use of an approved ninety (90) degree waste fitting.
Drywells are a type of drain that collect storm water into the ground. They are not very commonly used anymore. We have seen, however, some contractors still using drywells as their primary method of getting rid of water.
The dry well is designed to help reduce runoff and prevent flooding. Dry wells are often used when you tend to have excessive water in the yard. If you notice water standing after rainfall or snow melts, a dry well can help soak up the water and drain it out of your yard to much deeper levels of the substrate soil.
If you plan to add new structures to your property, such as a patio, driveway, or garden shed, it's important to consider how these additions might affect water flow. Altering the natural flow of water may necessitate the installation of a dry well to prevent water from pooling in unwanted areas.
When a well “runs dry” it doesn't mean that the well will never produce water again. Aquifers can recharge through a combination of more precipitation and less pumps pulling water out of that aquifer. Sometimes wells can run dry permanently, but that is quite uncommon.
Dry wells can be covered with lawn above, so you'd never know they were there. They can also be landscaped over with plants and flowers. The concept is not very different from a rain garden. The difference is there's no requirement to dedicate the space above the dry well to a planting bed.
Dry wells are typically three feet deep and should be designed to accommodate the stormwater volume (determined in Step 3). Adjust the dimensions of your dry well as needed to fit your site.
A well is said to have gone dry when water levels drop below a pump intake. This does not mean that a dry well will never have water in it again, as the water level may come back through time as recharge increases.
Swales: A Natural Solution
They're a great option if you're looking for a more natural, eco-friendly alternative to French drains. A swale is typically lined with grass or vegetation that helps slow down and absorb water.
Interior French drains are meant for waterproofing the basement or draining your crawl space. They cost more because contractors must tear out the basement floor (most often made of concrete), install the drain, and then repair it.
If your home experiences flooding or foundational damage due to groundwater, rain, or snowmelt, a French drain may take care of the problem for good. A properly installed exterior French drain will completely circle your home's foundation, exiting at the lowest point to drain the water away from the home.