Stormwater was flooding the yard and eroding a Marietta, Georgia property from several directions at once: surface runoff around the home plus concentrated roof runoff from multiple downspouts, all traveling downhill across significant elevation changes. Schmitt Waterproofing built two separate drainage systems totaling roughly 325 feet of SDR-35 piping, five surface drains, four downspout connections, and two dry creek beds, boring under an existing walkway rather than tearing it out.
| Location | Marietta, GA (Cobb County) |
| Project Dates | June 4 to June 16, 2026 |
| Duration | 6 days |
| Project Type | Dry Creek Bed, Drainage System |
| Lead | Josh Schmitt, Schmitt Waterproofing, LLC |
| Follow-Up Visit | July 2, 2026 |
Project Overview
A homeowner contacted Schmitt Waterproofing after dealing with stormwater that was flooding portions of the yard and causing ongoing erosion around the home. With significant elevation changes across the property, uncontrolled runoff was traveling downhill and washing away soil as it moved through the landscape.
The property needed more than a single catch basin or underground pipe. The solution required collecting water from multiple sources around the home, transporting it through a properly sized underground drainage network, and creating stabilized channels that could safely carry the discharged water down the hillside.
Over the course of the project, Schmitt Waterproofing constructed two separate drainage systems incorporating approximately 325 linear feet of underground SDR-35 piping, five surface drains, four gutter downspout connections, and two large dry creek beds totaling approximately 130 linear feet.
The Challenge
Stormwater affecting this property was coming from multiple sources.
Surface runoff was collecting around the home while several gutter downspouts added concentrated roof runoff to already saturated areas. Once the water began moving downhill, the combination of volume and slope contributed to erosion throughout the property.
Simply moving the water from one area of the yard to another would have relocated the problem. This is the trap with single-point drainage fixes on a sloped lot: a drain that clears one low spot often just delivers the same water, concentrated, to the next one downhill. Our drainage plan needed to:
- Capture surface water at multiple low points.
- Collect and redirect roof runoff from the home.
- Provide sufficient underground capacity for larger volumes of stormwater.
- Move water beneath an existing walkway without unnecessary demolition.
- Transition underground discharge into stabilized channels.
- Slow and control water as it travels down the hillside.
- Restore existing erosion where practical.
The result was a comprehensive system designed around how water naturally moved across the property.
The Solution: High-Capacity Drainage System
On one side of the property, we installed approximately 80 linear feet of 8-inch SDR-35 along with approximately 45 linear feet of 4-inch SDR-35.
An 18-inch drain and two 9-inch drains were strategically positioned to capture surface runoff before it could continue flooding and eroding the surrounding landscape.
A nearby gutter downspout was also connected directly into the underground system. A dedicated cleanout was installed at the downspout connection to provide future maintenance access. Cleanouts are a small detail that pays off for years: they give a clear point to flush or inspect the line without excavation if debris ever collects.
The use of 8-inch SDR-35 provided additional conveyance capacity for the larger volume of stormwater being collected on this portion of the property.
85-Foot Dry Creek Bed
The underground drainage system was routed to discharge into a newly constructed dry creek bed extending approximately 85 feet down the hillside.
We excavated and shaped a channel approximately 4 feet wide before installing a heavy-duty silt fabric underlayment. The creek bed was then constructed using a mixture of approximately 4-inch to 12-inch bulk river rock.
Rather than allowing concentrated discharge from the underground system to immediately begin eroding the hillside, the dry creek provides a durable transition that helps contain and control the water as it continues downhill. The discharge point is where many drainage jobs quietly fail: dumping a concentrated flow onto bare slope simply moves the erosion to the end of the pipe. The creek bed is what prevents that.
Second Drainage System and Boring Under the Walkway
A separate drainage network was constructed to address runoff affecting another portion of the home.
Approximately 95 linear feet of 4-inch SDR-35 was installed and connected to two 12-inch surface drains and three gutter downspouts. Each downspout connection received a dedicated cleanout to provide convenient access for future inspection and maintenance.
An existing walkway crossed the required drainage route. Instead of removing and replacing the walkway, our crew bored underneath it to install the drainage pipe while leaving the existing hardscape intact. That decision saved the homeowner the cost and disruption of demolishing and rebuilding a walkway, and it is the kind of choice that comes from planning the route around what the property already has rather than around what is easiest to trench.
45-Foot Dry Creek Bed
The second underground system terminates into another dry creek bed approximately 45 feet long and 4 feet wide.
Like the larger creek bed, this channel was excavated and lined with silt fabric before being constructed with 4-inch to 12-inch river rock.
Together, the two creek beds provide approximately 130 linear feet of stabilized surface drainage designed to receive water from the underground systems and control its movement down the property's natural slope.
Erosion Repair and Landscape Restoration
Managing the water was the primary objective, but restoring the areas already affected by erosion was also an important part of the project.
Excess soil generated during excavation was utilized where practical to rebuild and restore previously eroded areas. Fourteen existing bushes were removed and hauled away to accommodate construction of the new drainage system and dry creek beds.
Once installation was complete, approximately 60 rolls of pine straw were installed throughout the disturbed landscape areas to provide a clean finished appearance. Ground protection mats were also utilized during construction to help minimize unnecessary disturbance as excavation equipment and materials were moved through the property.
The Results
The property was transformed from an area experiencing uncontrolled runoff, flooding, and erosion into an integrated stormwater-management system.
The completed project now provides several layers of protection:
- Five strategically placed surface drains collect stormwater around the home.
- Four gutter downspouts redirect concentrated roof runoff underground.
- Approximately 325 feet of SDR-35 piping transports collected water away from problem areas.
- An 8-inch main drainage line provides increased capacity where larger volumes of water are being collected.
- Two dry creek beds provide approximately 130 feet of stabilized drainage down the hillside.
- Directional boring preserved the existing walkway.
- Previously eroded areas were restored with available excavated soil.
- Pine straw provided final stabilization and landscape restoration.
Instead of allowing stormwater to find its own uncontrolled path through the yard, the completed system captures, conveys, and redirects the water along a deliberate route designed around the property's existing topography. The homeowner was pleased that the system was installed exactly as outlined and proposed.
Verified After Rain: The Follow-Up Visit
We returned on July 2, 2026, for a follow-up visit. The purpose was to confirm the two drainage systems were performing after real rainfall and to address any areas that needed minor attention as the disturbed ground settled.
A drainage system is only proven once water has actually run through it, so a post-installation visit is standard practice on projects like this one. The follow-up confirmed the systems were carrying water along their intended routes to the dry creek beds and down the controlled path designed for the property.
Why Combining Underground Drainage With Dry Creek Beds Works
Moving stormwater underground solves only part of the problem. Eventually, every drainage system needs a safe place to discharge.
On sloped properties, releasing a concentrated volume of water directly onto the ground can create a new erosion problem at the end of the pipe.
For this project, the dry creek beds serve as an important part of the drainage system. They provide reinforced channels that receive water from the underground piping and create a controlled path down the hillside.
By combining strategically placed surface drains, underground SDR-35 piping, gutter connections, and stabilized dry creek beds, Schmitt Waterproofing created a comprehensive system that manages stormwater from the areas where it collects all the way through its final path across the property.
Project Highlights
Services Provided
- Comprehensive Yard Drainage Installation
- Approximately 80 Feet of 8-inch SDR-35
- Approximately 245 Feet of 4-inch SDR-35
- 85-Foot Dry Creek Bed
- 45-Foot Dry Creek Bed
- One 18-inch Surface Drain
- Two 12-inch Surface Drains
- Two 9-inch Surface Drains
- Four Gutter Downspout Connections
- Downspout Cleanouts
- Directional Boring Beneath Existing Walkway
- Erosion Repair and Landscape Restoration
Materials Used
- Approximately 325 Linear Feet of SDR-35 Drainage Pipe
- Six Pallets of Bulk River Rock
- One 18-inch Drain with Atrium Dome
- Four Additional Surface Drains
- Heavy-Duty Silt Fabric
- Approximately 60 Rolls of Pine Straw
Struggling With a Soggy, Eroding Yard?
If runoff is flooding your yard, roof water is dumping next to the house, or a slope keeps washing out, the lasting fix is a system designed around how water actually moves across your property, all the way to a safe discharge point. Schmitt Waterproofing offers free, no-pressure inspections throughout Cobb County and North Georgia, and we build the solution your property needs without upselling one it does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did this property need two separate drainage systems?
Stormwater was affecting two different portions of the home from multiple sources, so a single network would have meant running excessive pipe across the property and concentrating too much water at one discharge point. Two systems let each area drain along the most direct route to its own dry creek bed, which is both more effective and gentler on the landscape.
Can you install drainage without tearing up my existing walkway or patio?
Often, yes. On this project, an existing walkway crossed the drainage route, so rather than demolishing and rebuilding it, our crew bored underneath it to run the pipe while leaving the hardscape intact. Directional boring saves cost and disruption when the layout allows for it.
Why do the dry creek beds matter if the water is already going underground?
Because every underground system has to discharge somewhere, and on a slope, releasing concentrated water onto bare ground just starts a new erosion problem at the end of the pipe. The two creek beds, about 130 feet combined, give that discharged water a reinforced channel to follow down the hillside instead of cutting into the soil.
What are the cleanouts at the downspout connections for?
They provide maintenance access. If debris ever collects in a line, a cleanout lets the pipe be flushed or inspected without digging it up. Adding them at each downspout connection is a small step during installation that saves significant effort later.
How long did the project take?
Six days, from June 4 to June 16, 2026, covering both drainage systems, two dry creek beds, the walkway bore, and the landscape restoration. Duration depends on total linear footage, the number of collection points, and site conditions.
How do you know the system works after it is installed?
We returned for a follow-up visit on July 2, 2026, to confirm both systems were performing after real rainfall and to address any minor settlement. A drainage system is only proven once water has actually run through it, so the post-installation visit is standard on projects like this.
