Consulting engineer outlines backyard drainage options as residents press city on stormwater enforcement

Bridal Rickel, the city’s consulting engineer, outlined technical options for reducing rear‑yard ponding and the tradeoffs of each approach during the Huntington Woods City Commission meeting on Aug. 19.

Rickel said the common solutions include catch basins with flow restrictors, French drains and underground leaching basins, and he warned each approach has limits depending on soils, block topography and the condition of existing sanitary leads. “The homeowner is required to submit engineering designs for review,” he said, adding that “in the current zoning ordinance … there is no stormwater connection allowed to the combined system.”

Why it matters: dozens of residents told the commission they are experiencing recurring backyard flooding that they attribute to nearby additions, new construction or changed yard grades. Residents urged clearer enforcement of existing codes, better permitting checks and more proactive implementation of the city Master Plan’s stormwater action items.

Rickel framed the engineering choices and consequences. A catch basin or low‑point sump with a restrictor can slow discharge into the combined sewer and is commonly paired with a backflow preventer; Rickel described examples used in Berkeley and Birmingham and said communities often require a 3‑inch restrictor when tying into a sanitary lead. A French drain can be lower impact but is slower to drain and more prone to clogging; a leaching basin avoids sewer impacts but only functions in permeable soils and can be expensive. He said counties increasingly promote infiltration to replenish groundwater but that installation must follow infiltration tests handled by a geotechnical engineer.

Rickel stressed homeowner responsibility and limits of city authority. He said homeowners would bear design and construction costs, and that the city typically requires televising sanitary leads to confirm they are sound before any tie‑in. “The cost of the design review and installation is solely the homeowner’s responsibility,” he said. He also warned that even properly designed systems can pond after storms that exceed design assumptions and emphasized maintenance needs: “it needs to be maintained,” he said of catch basins and sumps.

Residents offered specific examples and concerns. Susan Considine, who FOIAed city files on Master Plan action items, asked the commission to follow the Master Plan’s recommendation that the planning commission revisit action topics annually and to provide stronger stormwater education and permitting review. “The master plan requires … should be revisited,” she said, raising action‑item numbers she said related to stormwater.

Several homeowners described recurring flooding they link to nearby new builds or regrading. Jan Wystems said that an astroturfed property built behind her sits at a higher grade and causes water to remain in her yard for 24 to 48 hours. Gail Kovac and other residents described long‑standing water problems in specific blocks and expressed frustration with past code enforcement responses.

Commissioners and staff discussed possible policy options. Commissioners asked whether the city could require dewatering systems for new construction while permitting selective retrofits for existing homes; Rickel said communities vary, with some requiring systems for new builds and others allowing optional installations for existing properties subject to review. He also noted the zoning ordinance currently prohibits stormwater connections to the combined system and recommended consulting the city attorney if the commission wanted to change permitting or ordinance language.

No formal ordinance change or vote occurred. Mayor Paul thanked Rickel and residents and said the commission would “continue this discussion and keep working on a good solution for the community.”

What’s next: commissioners and staff indicated further study, potential Planning Commission training on drainage review, and consultation with the city attorney about ordinance changes or permitting updates. Residents asked for clearer communication about enforcement and for the city to track how new builds are implemented against approved drainage plans.