http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html November 2003. Our first rain in Queensland. Water roared down the drive to the north and ponded on the concrete slab underneath the front of the house before spilling out to the street. The soil was so compacted it acted more like concrete... See here for more detail http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#0 ef7fcb09-d1d0-442a-be4b-ebada1a65a6a http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003_1.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003_1.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003_1.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">You’d certainly need wellies to get out of the car. This was the lowest point of the site at the time.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#1 a3586f08-f415-419d-9a36-08e7ffc0d004 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010007_2.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010007_2.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010007_2.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">Dysfunctional drain at the rear of the house. It overflowed in high humidity, let alone rain. We later discovered it was filled with soil and didn’t connect to anything anyway!</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#2 522f9402-bc73-477e-9ce5-b66791ee4c5b http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010004_2.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010004_2.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010004_2.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">Dysfunctional drain at the side. Soil had been mounded to keep water away from the house. Unfortunately it directed the gutter outfall back under the house.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#3 3dc850d9-ede2-4e41-baab-2d0a5cbe5d94 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010005_2.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010005_2.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010005_2.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">The very slight slope towards the back of the house from the garden directed runoff underneath the house.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#4 ddc75405-08b2-40f7-bc41-ffc4f9e240ab http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010017_2.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010017_2.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010017_2.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">After the rain tank was installed this trench had ag pipe laid in gravel running from the overflow. Water moves down the slope but has the opportunity to soak into the soil deep down.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#5 060a53c9-2f58-4278-8745-66307d535ef3 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1140017.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1140017.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1140017.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">That connected to the herringbone drainage laid beside the house.  This area will be the nursery.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#6 ea75bde0-34e0-48a2-9a4e-80b22e47fb40 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1150011.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1150011.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1150011.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">Brisbane landscapers ‘Green Survival’ did all the hard work, here laying ag pipe.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#7 b4d460ab-31f9-4e79-b4f6-1b683d7f387c http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1150013.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1150013.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1150013.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">The ag pipe connects to a soakaway pit at the front of the house. Runoff collects here and soaks into the ground. It also acts as a sediment trap</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#8 92bfda22-3962-4d62-87e7-f7eb465c2bb8 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1160004_1.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1160004_1.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1160004_1.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">A thick gravel base covers up pipes. The soakaway will overflow through the pipe laid to the street under the footpath, originally designed to take the flow from the roof gutters</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#9 6a31a118-12b0-4dbc-ae5c-bf5e77ff7207 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010001.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010001.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010001.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">The soakaway fills up when the rainwater tank overflows in heavy rain. Normal rain doesn’t fill it above the gravel. From full it soaks into the ground in a couple of days</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#10 56894f8d-f997-4bc5-b0c4-f9ae6d2ea9a4 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010015.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010015.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010015.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">The original compacted soil shed water like concrete. Excavators and concrete mixers  didn’t help.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#11 119168f8-0269-44c5-91f5-e021e4c6a883 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/layers.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/layers.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/layers.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">The green manure and sandwich mulch process (see garden development) broke up the soil, added organic matter and turned it into an absorbent sponge.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#12 108942e7-3dba-4309-b7ec-5f7331b608df http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/lawn_edge.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/lawn_edge.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/lawn_edge.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">The lawn has a high (150mm) sealed border to stop heavy downpours running straight off. Stormwater gets held and has more chance to soak in.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#13 9ce42f99-0a23-43cf-a1eb-1941658355c3 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">Raised beds filled with organically rich soil and traffic areas covered with a fibrous mulch also help prevent runoff.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#14 86bd2ba4-26c5-44c9-b5cd-4d4b5d8f158b http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010048.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010048.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010048.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">Gravel instead of pavers or other impermeable surfaces allows water to penetrate. The land drainage under here now keeps this area dry underfoot - no more raging torrents.</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#15 5abbe164-957e-4691-beed-770ea8e6f20a http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P3270012.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P3270012.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P3270012.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">Gravel and mulch make a nice blurred boundary  and help keep the rainfall in the garden</p></div></div> http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management.html#16 3081d7a3-9c62-4017-aad8-2111553ee565 http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003_1_1.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003_1_1.jpg?derivative=micro http://www.bellis.info/Site_3/Setup_Galleries/Pages/Water_Management_files/Media/P1010003_1_1.jpg?derivative=mip <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_4">This kind of downpour used to flow over the footpath like a weir, now it’s a trickle</p></div></div>