Question
Like the question posed at http://en.allexperts.com/q/Landscaping-Design-724/2008/7/MAJOR-water-retaining.h... we are the lowest house on a 3-house cul-de-sac.  As a result, water from our neighbors on both sides make our lawn sopping, squishy wet.  We've gotten estimates from landscapers: some say French drains; others say pipe-and-catch basin. Some say don't do catch basins because they clog up more easily and difficult to clean out.  What should we do?

Answer
If you have lots of trees with larger leaves then clogging may be an issue. If you don't have trees or if they have small leaves and you select a large capacity catch basin (18 inches or more), then it may be fine. Its hard to say definitively without a site visit. How long does it stay wet? How flat is the land. If it is very flat and you can't get a drain to be in the lowest spot easily then french drains would be best.

Best of Luck

Sean J Murphy, LA, ISA

www.seengineering.com
www.amenityarchitects.com