Sandbags, sandbag alternatives?

[Mukluk]

Short story: When it rains, all the water from the street comes down the driveway and causes a flood. I could use sandbags but am also wondering if anyone has had any luck with these things.

link coming

Long story: There is a drain at the bottom of the driveway that flows into a pipe that goes approx 40=45 feet to a culvert. However, there is some kind of obstruction about 30 feet down the pipe that needs to be cleared (and it may take some time for me to get this done as I am trying to save money and do it myself). The “out flow” part of the pipe appears to be buried under dirt. If this can be cured everything will be swell. Meanwhile the problem for me with sandbags is they are so heavy (my shoulder has been acting up) and not a great idea for me to be lifting them. They have some filled ones at home depot that might work if I can get them to load them and then I can just drive my vehicle to where they need to go and drop them (I can probably manage unloading and maneuvering them, just not lifting them up).

[Mukluk]

https://www.amazon.com/HydraSorber-Sandless-Sandbags-Absorbent-Barrier/dp/B00UGLAR4M/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1481603204&sr=8-4&keywords=sandbags+for+flooding

[Mukluk]

https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Bank-Sandless-Sandbags-Pack/dp/B01C7TC5KY/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1481603378&sr=8-8&keywords=sandbags+for+flooding

[Mukluk]

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sandbag-Alternative-Hydrabarrier-Eco-friendly/dp/B00CA7OXT0/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1481603442&sr=8-19-spons&keywords=sandbags+for+flooding&psc=1

Sorry that I have put these options in separate posts. I was not able to edit my original post (due to gremlins that have been plaguing COTH?). The reusable water sandbags seem like a nice idea. Light weight and then put them away for next time when not used. The water tube in this post is more pricey plus being at the top of a sloping driveway. I would need to anchor it so it doesn’t roll away. Thanks in advance to anyone who can comment on my dilemma.

[csaper58]

Could the clog in the pipe be an animal/nest like a beaver or nutria? If so Wildlife & Fisheries may remove it for you.

My go to for unskilled labor is the high school football coach. He always knows kids that need service hours, or a little $.

[clanter]

Whose culvert is it? Yours, the state highway, city or county governments?

Have you contacted any authority about the clogged culvert?

[Peggy]

I see a lot of these straw “sandbags” or wattles.
https://www.lowes.com/pl/Erosion-control-wattles-logs-Erosion-control-Building-supplies/4294653867

[msj]

Definitely check to find out if it’s a town or county road. They may be liable for any repairs. I know here the local town does the county road maintenance and managet to screw it up most of the time but if you keep after them they eventually get it right after you tell them what really needs to be done.

The answer to your problem may be just a phone call away.

Good luck.

[Mukluk]

[QUOTE=Peggy;8971636]
I see a lot of these straw “sandbags” or wattles.
https://www.lowes.com/pl/Erosion-control-wattles-logs-Erosion-control-Building-supplies/4294653867[/QUOTE]

I am thinking that these are designed to keep dirt where it belongs but not to block water. I would think water would flow right through these. I need a waterproof barricade.

[Mukluk]

[QUOTE=clanter;8971456]
Whose culvert is it? Yours, the state highway, city or county governments?

Have you contacted any authority about the clogged culvert? [/QUOTE]

The culvert is not clogged. What is clogged is buried pipe that runs from the driveway drain to the culvert.

[Mukluk]

I live in a gated community that has a community services district. Maybe I could call them and see if they would be of any help. Certainly worth a try. I doubt they would deal with my clogged drain but maybe they could provide sandbags. And Csaper58 I’ll see what I can do about having someone else do the digging. I am guessing the obstruction may be tree roots. But I have to find it before I can resolve the problem. Sometimes I wish I were a renter.

[clanter]

What is clogged is buried pipe that runs from the driveway drain to the culvert.

from your description it appears the connect between the two has collapsed/or wasn’t installed properly

Look at the community by-laws regarding road maintenance and if you have a copy of your survey you may find the culvert/pipi to be within the right-of-way of the street, not even on your land … and often independent road maintenance by a land owner is forbidden

The service district should have a flexible camera system to scope out the problem from inside the piping… this will also provide a specific location for the obstruction to determine if it is on public or private land

Our little city provides this service and requests that we use them to determine who is responsible for such things a sewer line problems. They just run the camera through the system, find the problem, mark where it is, then if its theirs they repair, if the residents then they its their issue ( but the city does have a separate homeowners assistance fund for improving sewer connections)

[Mukluk]

The drain pipe running to the driveway is on my property except for I believe the small part that would drain into the culvert (maybe 4 feet?). I’ll call the CSD and see what can be done. Still likely I will need to get sandbags as we will likely be getting more rain before the drain is fixed.

[AQHA4me]

Just be careful of the local water laws. Here in Ohio if you diverted water from your property and it ran on to someone else’s property you can be sued. I’m pretty sure most states require you to accept the water that runs onto your land. Just a heads up.

[Mukluk]

[QUOTE=AQHA4me;8973056]
Just be careful of the local water laws. Here in Ohio if you diverted water from your property and it ran on to someone else’s property you can be sued. I’m pretty sure most states require you to accept the water that runs onto your land. Just a heads up.[/QUOTE]

The culvert an easement. It is a waterway for the run off of the neighborhood.

[Mukluk]

I wanted to edit my prior post but the COTH gremlins are making it to difficult. Maybe not an easement. It is community property (not owned by myself or my neighbor). It is designed for overflow from the neighborhood.

[Mukluk]

I am still working on resolving the drain issue (no camera available from CSD to run down the pipe to find out what the obstruction is). Meanwhile we had about 3 inches of rain which flooded my garage a little (nothing like an old time bailing episode featuring filling 5 gallon buckets and then carrying them 40 feet away to dump them- though it was good exercise!) I was able to localize where the water seems to come from off the street and then fill some sandbags so that should solve or reduce the problem next time it rains. I was concerned that dealing with sandbags would not be the best thing for my shoulder but I managed to do it by limiting how much sand I put in them. Meanwhile the CSD is supposed to stop by to assess if anything can be done about the street. Fun times- but it certainly could be worse.

[HungarianHippo]

Be sure to take pictures of the flooded area and sandbags you’ve put up. It will help you make the case if you need to get in front of the community directors/managers in the future.

[clanter]

Be sure to take pictures of the flooded area and sandbags you’ve put up. It will help you make the case if you need to get in front of the community directors/managers in the future.

Also works great when you are contesting a taxing district’s property evaluation, the flooding is considered a major property problem