Richardson, TX
Home MenuStormwater Resident’s Guide
Richardson has invested heavily in its manmade infrastructure, too, as part of creating a safe, attractive home for residents and businesses. This infrastructure is absolutely essential, from Richardson’s well-maintained streets and alleys to its well-designed stormwater drainage system.
Even for Richardson residents and property owners who aren’t alongside a creek,there is a critical role to play. The City’s stormwater drainage system is designed to transport water in an orderly fashion across roadways and parcels of land, into gutters, ditches, culverts, and sewers that eventually drain stormwater into larger creeks and channels. Every upstream element of this system must be kept as free as possible from obstructions, in order to ensure that stormwater is conveyed away from homes and businesses – thus preventing potential property damage or loss of life. We encourage you to study this guide, and we thank you for doing your part.
Richardson’s Creek/Drainage System
A Multi-Part System To Drain Water Purposefully
- The City of Richardson encompasses 28 square miles with 12 total drainage basins, as shown on the map below. To illustrate some of the citywide system’s key features, four of those basins are featured in greater detail on pages 7-13 of this guide.
- Richardson’s stormwater drainage system, primarily developed decades ago as subdivisions were constructed, is designed to direct rainfall to drain lines and creek beds in order to channel water purposefully to larger bodies of water downstream.
- The system includes several key components that work in harmony to accomplish the goal of funneling water away from homes and businesses, including more than 10,000 inlets, over 350 miles of storm drain line and nearly 45 miles of creek beds.
Live Along a Creek?
In most cases, property owners who live along creeks and waterways are responsible for regular maintenance of that area to preserve its drainage function and enhance neighborhood integrity.
Learn MoreHOMEOWNER STEWARDSHIP
Your Role: Promoting Positive Drainage
Ensuring the rain flows where it’s supposed to — into swales and stormwater inlets — reduces the chances that water will end up where it’s not supposed to, such as your home or garage! You can help promote positive drainage on and around your property in a variety of ways:
Eliminate debris and blockages on your property (old tires, garbage, yard clippings, litter, etc.). This includes keeping swales, storm inlets and streets free of leaves and other debris.
Avoid adding new fences or walls that create barriers to positive drainage. If you must add a fence or wall, work with a professional to incorporate an appropriate drainage solution.
Minimize impervious surfaces (driveways, parking areas, decks, paths, etc.) that may send water in the wrong direction, or too rapidly into the drainage system.
Instead of concrete, use wooden decks, gravel, brick or stone paths, paving stones, or concrete blocks set in sand so water can permeate more easily. Employ landscaping to help with water drainage and absorption, or to slow its flow.
Ensure proper grading is preserved – meaning a gentle slope away from your home.
Similarly, make sure gutters and pipes are directed away from your house – but first into vegetated or graveled areas for filtration before leaving your property.
Consider a rain barrel or other method to catch roof runoff for later irrigation use.
If you do not mulch, ask your landscaping service to haul away lawn clippings, pruning debris and other materials. Mulching your lawn clippings and other natural debris is the recommended options, wherever possible.
Call the City of Richardson’s Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) service for yard debris pickup, or use the designated pickup days for bagged leaves and similar materials. For more information about BABIC services: www.cor.net/babic.
Keep an eye on your neighborhood’s creek and storm drains. Promptly call one of the resources listed on page 18 to report any blockages or other issues to the City of Richardson.
When rain is predicted, park in your garage or driveway instead of the street, to ensure streets and gutters can drain water away smoothly.