Builders and designers have numerous
tactics for dealing with water in
the ground, but not necessarily a
clear strategy of which measures to
use when, and why. This column
takes a strategic look at water in and
on the ground. Not all flooding problems
are solvable, but their impact
can be controlled by educating yourself
and your client about what to
expect and how to prepare for the
inevitable.
The Site as Part of a System
Every site is part of a larger watershed
that sooner or later will be overwhelmed
by unusual weather. The
issue for the builder and designer is
not whether a site will flood, but how
often, and what the flood will be like
when