When many homeowners think about water management, sprinkler systems and rain catchers come to mind. Although they are often part of a comprehensive approach towards year-round landscaping, they’re not the only issues. It’s important to take snowmelt into consideration too. Breaking down the snowmelt process into parts and addressing the problems associated with each one is often the best way to proceed. Let’s start with a look at the pavement melt.
Pavement melt, as you’ve probably guessed by now, involves the snow that accumulates on a home’s concrete walkways, steps, pads, driveways, and patios. It is frequently tainted by contact with products like rock salt, kitty litter, and sand. Therefore, it can damage certain man-made surfaces as well as kill plant life and contaminate water headed for a residential property’s containment system (e.g. rain barrel or retention ditch). The same may be said for roadside and roadway melt that may back up, or otherwise, run on to residential properties.
We can’t forget about snowmelt that occurs and pools in low areas throughout a residential property’s grassy areas either. It sometimes contains unwanted chemicals and minerals as well. For example, if year-round landscaping materials contain artificial dyes and preservatives, they could leach into the snowmelt then transfer to other areas.
Finally, there are occasions when rain falls on top of accumulated snow. Depending on the snow’s consistency, placement, and amount, it could cause residential properties’ drainage systems to become overwhelmed. As a result, water could end up rushing into cellars, crawl spaces, and other areas that should be kept dry.
Thankfully, water management measures that can reduce, eliminate, or redirect the various types of snowmelt we just mentioned are available. To learn more about them and other year-round water management techniques that may improve residential properties, please contact us. We’d be pleased to schedule a consultation and offer our advice.