How Driveway & Roadside Drainage Works (And Why You Should Care)
The Overlooked Role of Driveway and Roadside Drainage
When homeowners think about drainage, they often focus on soggy yards or water near the foundation. But driveways and roadways play a huge role in how water flows through your property—and how it leaves it. In Horry and Georgetown Counties, many drainage issues can be traced back to problems with roadside ditches, swales, or culverts. If water isn’t flowing properly at the edge of your property, it can back up, flood your yard, or even damage your driveway.
Common Roadside Drainage Features
There are a few key components used to manage drainage along roads and driveways:
1. Roadside Ditches
These are shallow, open channels that run alongside roads and are designed to collect and carry runoff during storms. They help prevent flooding in streets and direct water away from nearby properties.
2. Swales
Similar to ditches but more subtle, swales are grassy depressions that slow down and filter stormwater. Many residential areas use swales instead of curbs and gutters.
3. Driveway Culverts
A culvert is a pipe that runs under a driveway to allow water to pass through a roadside ditch or swale. Culverts keep stormwater flowing and prevent water from pooling at the edge of your property.
Why It Matters to Homeowners
If any of these drainage features become clogged, collapsed, or improperly maintained, it can lead to a chain reaction of problems:
Water backing up into your yard or crawl space
Driveway erosion or washouts
Standing water along the road edge, which encourages mosquitoes and weeds
Damage to neighboring properties or public infrastructure
In many cases, poor roadside drainage isn’t obvious until a heavy rain event—and by then, it may already be causing damage.
Who’s Responsible for Maintenance?
Responsibility for maintaining roadside drainage depends on who owns the road:
County- or state-maintained roads – The local government is usually responsible for maintaining roadside ditches and pipes, but driveway culverts are often the homeowner’s responsibility.
Private roads or driveways – Maintenance falls entirely on the property owner or HOA.
In either case, homeowners are expected to keep driveway culverts clear of debris and avoid placing anything in ditches or swales that could block the flow of water.
Signs of a Drainage Problem
Watch for these signs that your roadside drainage isn’t working properly:
Water pooling at the end of your driveway
Erosion around culverts or along the road
Gurgling sounds or slow drainage after rain
Sediment buildup or vegetation choking a swale or ditch
What You Can Do
If you suspect an issue:
Inspect your driveway culvert – Check for visible blockages, crushed pipes, or sediment buildup.
Keep ditches and swales clear – Remove leaves, branches, or other debris regularly.
Avoid altering roadside features – Don’t fill in ditches or build across swales without proper permitting.
Contact your county or HOA – If you believe the issue is beyond your control, report it to the appropriate authority.
Driveway and roadside drainage is one of the most overlooked parts of residential drainage, but it plays a critical role in how your property handles stormwater. Keeping culverts, swales, and ditches in good shape can help prevent flooding, protect your driveway, and reduce mosquito breeding.
In Horry and Georgetown Counties, where coastal rainfall and flat terrain can overwhelm poorly maintained systems, paying attention to roadside drainage isn’t just good practice—it’s essential. A Certified Drainage Report (CDR) can help clarify who is responsible for maintaining your roadside ditch or driveway culvert. Whether the road is state-maintained, county-maintained, or private, the CDR will identify the appropriate jurisdiction and note any maintenance concerns observed during the site visit. This information helps homeowners understand their obligations and determine who to contact if drainage issues arise.
