French Drains: Forget Paris, Think Henry!

A French Drain is a time-tested method of removing nuisance water from your yard. They are perfect for allowing water to run from low elevations, and other areas likely to flood, down to storm sewers.

Contrary to popular belief, French drains were not invented by the French, or even necessarily popular in French-influenced US cities such as New Orleans. Instead, they were invented by Henry French, a 19th century lawyer from Concord, Mass. who later became Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary. He later wrote about them in his popular book Farm Drainage.

The earliest forms of French Drains were simple ditches, pitched from a high area to a lower one and filled with gravel. The idea was that water could flow through these drains but that dirt, mud and other debris would be stopped by the gravel, thus eliminating potential clogs.

French\’s own drains were made of sections of ordinary roofing tile laid with a 1/8 inch gap left in between the sections to admit water. Later, specialized drain tiles were designed with perforations allowing water in but designed to keep soil out.

French drains are not costly and they are simple to install. Additionally, they can be hidden with turf after they\’re put in, which allows them to blend in with the landscape.

Here are the goals of a French Drain:

* to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations;

*to broadly distribute water flowing from a typical septic tank sewage system;

* to relieve ground water pressure from behind retaining walls;

If adjoining property sits at a higher elevation, your yard may fall prey to pooling water. In this scenario, installing a French Drain could be your best bet to channel away excess moisture.

Remember that some communities may require permits prior to your installation of a French drainage system. That\’s because federal law mandates that water sent to storm drains be clean of certain contaminants and dirt.

Want to find out more about St Louis drainage systems? Then visit MPR Supply\’s website for all your drainage needs.