Drywells are an excellent solution for managing storm water. They help reduce flooding, erosion, and pollution while promoting groundwater recharge and conservation. If you want to make your property more resilient to heavy rain and reduce your environmental impact, consider adding drywells to your water management plan.
Proper drainage and expertly finished concrete go hand-in-hand. A professionally installed dry well protects your foundation, stops yard flooding, and prevents costly asphalt deterioration. Romano Paving provides free, on-site drainage evaluations.
Romano Paving & Contracting Corp. provides expert dry well installation in Long Island and the greater New York area to help residential and commercial properties manage heavy rainfall. Here is everything you need to know about what dry wells are, how they work, and how they can protect your property.
A dry well is an underground structure designed to collect and disperse stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and other impermeable surfaces into the ground. By capturing this water before it pools, dry wells prevent surface flooding and property damage.
Rainfall of any kind can sink into the soil through a dry well, replenishing groundwater and regulating runoff. They also aid in lowering pollution levels by filtering impurities out of the water naturally before it reaches local streams.
Many property owners ask, how does a dry well work to prevent flooding? When rainwater falls on surfaces it cannot penetrate (like asphalt parking lots or concrete roofs), it runs into devices like catch basins, gutters, downspouts, and French drains. This rainwater is then transported to the dry well via subterranean pipelines.
Because the walls of the dry well are porous, water is temporarily stored and allowed to slowly seep into the surrounding soil. The soil serves as a natural filter to remove impurities and pollutants. During major New York storms, this progressive release of water lessens the peak flow of runoff entering neighboring storm drains, drastically lowering the risk of flooding downstream.
Proper drainage and expertly finished concrete go hand-in-hand. A professionally installed dry well protects your foundation, stops yard flooding, and prevents costly asphalt deterioration. Romano Paving provides free, on-site drainage evaluations.
Depending on the size of your property and the volume of water you need to manage, there are two primary types of dry well systems used in commercial and residential construction:
Formal Dry Wells (Concrete Rings): Storm water is stored and allowed to seep into formal dry well systems, also known as dry well rings. These are made of prefabricated, perforated concrete. They range in size and are usually installed 6–8 feet below the surface. These rings are interconnected to form a larger space, allowing massive amounts of rainwater to collect.
Rock-Filled Dry Wells: These are installed at shallower depths of 4 to 6 feet. They consist of a pit filled with drain rock and are more cost-effective for smaller spaces. They are a good alternative when less water storage is needed compared to formal concrete dry wells.
Overflow Mechanism: All dry well drainage systems installed by Romano Paving feature an overflow mechanism, usually a surface bubbler, to handle excess water during extreme heavy rains. This prevents water from backing up toward your foundation.
Yes, dry wells are legal and highly encouraged in New York as a method of sustainable stormwater management.
However, because you are altering the drainage of the land, you typically do need a permit to install one. Local regulations in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and NYC dictate specific rules regarding the depth of the well, the required distance from building foundations, and proximity to the groundwater table. Romano Paving handles the entire permitting process and provides you with the approved permits to ensure your project is 100% compliant with local laws.
The cost of a dry well installation in New York varies widely depending on the scale of the project, soil conditions, and the materials used.
For a standard residential rock-filled dry well, costs typically range from $1,500 to $3,000. For heavy-duty commercial properties requiring large, precast concrete dry well rings and deep excavation, costs can range from $4,000 to over $10,000. The exact price is determined by the required holding capacity (gallons of water), the ease of excavation on your property, and the specific piping required to route the downspouts to the well.
Proper drainage and expertly finished concrete go hand-in-hand. A professionally installed dry well protects your foundation, stops yard flooding, and prevents costly asphalt deterioration. Romano Paving provides free, on-site drainage evaluations.
You likely need a professional dry well installation if your Long Island or NYC property experiences any of the following stormwater runoff issues:
Frequent Flooding: If your property frequently floods after heavy rains or if you notice standing water in parking lots or lawns, a dry well will catch and absorb that excess water.
Soil Erosion or Waterlogged Soil: If your soil becomes soggy and waterlogged during a downpour, it indicates inadequate drainage. A dry well prevents waterlogging, promotes healthier plant growth, and reduces soil erosion.
Standing Water Around Downspouts: If you often see standing water pooling near your home or commercial building’s foundation, your current drainage system is failing and putting your foundation at risk.
Both dry wells and infiltration systems are used to manage stormwater runoff, but they have different designs. An infiltration system (or infiltration trench) is a network of underground structures installed at shallow depths of 2 to 4 feet.
Infiltration trenches spread water over a larger horizontal area, which helps it seep into the soil more effectively. Because infiltrators can handle massive volumes of water across a wide area, they're often used for larger commercial developments with plenty of impermeable surfaces, while traditional dry wells are excellent for targeted, deep-water dispersal.
Installing a dry well needs careful planning and digging to ensure it's the right size and in the optimal location based on soil type and building proximity.
After installation, minimal upkeep is required. Typically, maintenance entails clearing sediment accumulation from the leaf screen or sediment trap connected to the downspouts feeding into the drywell. If a dry well stops draining efficiently over the years, a professional can use a scope to check the lines and clear any blockages.
Don't let stormwater damage your property. Contact Romano Paving & Contracting Corp. today to schedule a site evaluation.
Mailing address: 121 E 2nd Street, Suite 2, Mineola, NY 11501, BIC# 1190 Tel: 718.728.3488 Email: info@romanopaving.com
Proper drainage and expertly finished concrete go hand-in-hand. A professionally installed dry well protects your foundation, stops yard flooding, and prevents costly asphalt deterioration. Romano Paving provides free, on-site drainage evaluations.
