Removing the Runoff Water That Builds Up in the Backyard During a Storm

This is the backyard intake for a private storm sewer installed by an Oak Avenue resident. Run off from the elevated  mega properties on Maple Avenue means that the backyards on Oak Avenue have to accommodate twice as much water --  their own and the water from the house behind them on Maple. If the water is not removed quickly enough, the yard will fill up and the excess water starts to look for places to go, usually the basement via the window wells. There are several Oak Avenue houses with variations on this private storm sewer theme. This one may be one of the best for removing water quickly to the street.  Most intakes aren't this large -- 1' square -- so this one was effective enough to help drain three yards, until the June 26 storm, when the force of the water separated the pipe from the intake and now needs to be fixed/replaced.  Here's where the water comes out in the front yard [below]:

The owner of this house added several inches to the height of the window wells. The original window, which opened into the basement, was replaced with glass block to prevent backyard water combined with Maple Avenue runoff from rushing into the basement when the window wells were overwhelmed. 

This is another one of the elevated window wells with its cover on. The owner did the cement work himself. It can cost up to $500 or more to install new window wells with additional height.

Sunday, June 30, four days after the storm, the two in ground sumps installed several years ago at this house are still pumping excess ground water to the front yard. [The backyard has been too saturated to absorb sump pump water since 2007].  The pumps have been cycling non stop every three minutes. Did I mention non stop?