Economic Drainage Solutions
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area. A French drain can have perforated hollow pipes along the bottom to quickly vent water that seeps down through the upper gravel or rock. French drains often time have catch basins at ground level to catch larger flows of water and redirect it quickly.
French drains are primarily used to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations. French drains are also used behind retaining walls to relieve ground water pressure. The most common use of french drains is to alleviate soggy and wet areas that hold water in a poorly graded yard.