Drainage & Flooding Issues

Drainage issues can arise quickly in the older, established neighborhoods found throughout Avon Lake. If you notice water pooling in your yard or property, follow these steps:

  1. Is excessive water not draining correctly from the rear of your property, or on your private property? Contact a landscaper or plumber to assess the situation.
  2. Is the water or drainage issue located on the City right-of-way – like in a drainage ditch or street? Contact the Public Works Department office at 440-930-4101 or the Avon Lake Regional Water Department at 440-933-6226.

Below are some of the common issues and solutions:
1. I have water standing in my yard whenever it rains. What can I do? What can the City do to help me?
2. How do I get my swale piped in?
3. The Contractor building on my street has muddied up the road. Who do I call to get it cleaned?
4. Why do I get water in my basement?
5. How do I find out if my home is in a floodplain?
6. What is flood insurance and do I need to buy it?
7. How do I find my sewer clean-outs?
8. How does my house drain rainwater?
9. How do I get the curb repaired in front of my house?
10. What do I do if I have standing water in my back yard?
11. Will the City come out and install a drain in my back yard?
12. Do I need a permit if I want to fill in a low spot in my rear yard?

I have water standing in my yard whenever it rains. What can I do? What can the City do to help me?

Every property owner is responsible for drainage on their property. If an adjacent property has been regraded to drain onto your property, please call the Public Works Department to investigate.

All homes built since the early 1980s have been required to install rear yard drains. Grading to these drains is the responsibility of the property owner. In most cases, these drains are owned by the neighboring properties. If you have a drain, make sure that there is nothing covering it that would prevent water from draining. The City cannot legally come onto private property to install drainage. The property owner whose property accesses a storm sewer can install a drain at his/her own expense.

How do I get my swale piped in?

Requests for enclosing a swale must be made in writing to the Public Works Department.

There are two ways to have a swale enclosed:

  1. The Public Works Department can enclose the swale if the property owner agrees to pay for materials. If the Public Works Department can do the work, the property will be added to a list. It may take up to one year to complete the work due to a heavy backlog.
  2. A property owner can do the work with a contractor. He/she will need to obtain a right-of-way permit. There is no cost for the permit, but inspection by the Public Works Department is required.

The Contractor building on my street has muddied up the road. Who do I call to get it cleaned?
Call the Public Works Department (440-930-4101) or Police Department (440-933-4567). Contractors are required to keep the streets clean as part of the City’s EPA requirements for storm water quality. Fines can be levied against drivers that muddy the roads, however, there must be a witness to the violation before action can be taken.

Why do I get water in my basement?
Water in basements can be caused by several issues:

  1. The sanitary sewer has backed up;
  2. Your sump pump cannot keep up with the water or has failed;
  3. Your basement walls have cracks and water is infiltrating the walls and/or;
  4. The sewer line has tree roots that need to be cleaned.

Avon Lake Regional Water has a 24-hour emergency number for residents. With the exception of the sewer main being blocked, all repairs and remedies are the responsibility of the property owner. The staff at both the Public Works Department and Avon Lake Regional Water can help residents determine the cause of the backups and recommend solutions.

How do I find out if my home is in a floodplain?

If your home is in a floodplain, the Public Works Department can assist you in obtaining a Letter of Map Amendment if it can be established that the grade around your home is above the flood elevation set by FEMA. To learn if you are in a floodplain go to the FEMA website and enter your address

If you have any questions contact the Public Works Director, Joseph Reitz.

What is flood insurance and do I need to buy it?

Flood Insurance is required in areas where your home/property fall within what is called a 100-year floodplain. These areas are determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Statistically, when a 100-year frequency storm event occurs, ditches will back-up and cause flooding in these areas. Flood Insurance is required by FEMA in these designated areas. Flood Insurance is available to all property owners but is only required within 100-year floodplains.

How do I find my sewer clean-outs?

The City may not have an exact location for your sanitary and/or storm sewer clean-outs but the Public Works Department can provide locations of the sewer laterals in the street as a starting point. If your home was built after 1985, we should have locations as shown on the original grading plan for the house. Avon Lake Regional Water 440-933-6226 may offer to help for older homes.

How does my house drain rainwater?
Not all streets in Avon Lake have designated storm sewers. In general, if your street does not have a storm sewer, Avon Lake Regional Water requires downspouts to be splashed onto the ground. In such cases, there is only one sewer in the street that takes rainwater and sanitary water. It is important on these “combined sewer” streets that we slow the rate of storm water entering the sewer to prevent sewer backups into basements. If you have additional questions about your home or street, please call the Public Works Department 440-930-4101 and we can show you maps of your street and answer questions on how to drain your property.

How do I get the curb repaired in front of my house?

The Public Works Department prepares a list of yearly road repairs each February and March. The list is prioritized based upon severity of damage and budget concerns. Citizens can report poor road conditions to the Public Works Department throughout the year; however, in the event a report of poor road conditions is received after March, the road reported cannot be repaired (unless there presents a critical safety issue) until the following year.

What do I do if I have standing water in my back yard?

You can check to see if you have a rear yard drain. If you have a drain, make sure the drain is free and clear of all debris.

Will the City come out and install a drain in my back yard?

Rear yard drainage is the responsibility of the property owner. On streets where there are either deep enough ditches or a designated storm sewer, the property owner can hire a contractor to install a rear yard drain.

Do I need a permit if I want to fill in a low spot in my rear yard?

Yes. All properties are required to keep storm drainage from draining to neighboring properties. f your grading forces water onto a neighboring property, your permit request will be denied. Re- grading permits are $25 and ensure that your project will not adversely impact your neighbor.