Koski Drainage Solutions

02/25/2026

What makes Koski Drainage Solutions different than an excavator or landscaper that "does" drainage?

Fair question!

With over 25 years' combined experience in designing and installing effective and efficient drainage solutions, we ave come across a wide range of "attempts" to correct water problems. Some good, others, very bad.

For a lot of contractors, drainage is sort of an after thought- something to add to the end of their list of offered services, a place holder if needed on another project they're on.

For a general excavation contractor, small-scale drainage and basement waterproofing, especially at a residential site, is like putting a bull in a china closet. They generally don't have the micro-sized equipment to complete a project inside an existing landscape without causing major, MAJOR damage- destroyed patios, plantings torn out, lawn wrecked, sprinkler system and lighting ripped to pieces. They're often equipped to address the drainage issue itself, and generally the installation is "okay" (sometimes good, sometimes no so good), but after the drainage is installed, you might get some hay and seed thrown down on the roughly-graded dirt, and they're gone. You then need to hire a landscape contractor, irrigation and lighting contractor and potentially a paving contractor, to put your property back together.

For a landscaper- sometimes drainage is in their wheelhouse, but more often than not, it's beyond their scope of work. We see a LOT of "attempts" at landscapers trying to solve water issues with solutions found at the big box stores, or worse, drain pipes pitched backwards, elevations incorrect, pipes sized incorrectly, tie-ins done improperly, the list goes on. Once they backfill, most folks would have no idea the system is done improperly, until a few heavy rains and they find the issues they thought they solved "at a good price" were not solved at all.

With Koski Drainage Solutions, we focus on one thing- DRAINAGE! We handle your unique drainage and water issue with professionalism and punctuality. We handle it all- from system design, permitting, engineering (if needed), proper installation of the system designed for your specific situation, renovation of the landscape after the work- plants reinstalled, irrigation reconnected, landscape lighting back in position, lawn repaired with topsoil, seed or sod, beds mulched and walkways and driveways repaired. No other contractor to call to finish the job, no pointing fingers at "the other guy" who damaged the system after the fact. We take care of it all.

Our goal- solve your drainage issue once and for all, when we leave, you will hardly be able to tell we were even there.

Remember, when you have a drainage issue, call Koski Drainage Solutions! 201.575.1436

This backyard in Morris County had a major drainage issue that was addressed 4 weeks before this picture was taken- curtain drainage, Cultec Chambers, leader drains. Can you tell where the system was installed? After the seed germinated, neither could we!

02/25/2026

So we have collected your roof leader runoff and collected the surface water collecting on your lawn, now what?

We are asked this question a lot! The answer? It depends...

In recent years, most municipalities in New Jersey have adopted stormwater management regulations, passed down to them from NJDEP. While these regulations deal with, in large part, new development and municipal stormwater infrastructure, it also provides best management practices for civil engineers and designers of stormwater management systems to incorporate into their projects.

Back to the question- where does the collected water go?

Generally, there are three options:

A) Municipal tie-in. If your specific municipality allows, the collected water can be tied into municipal stormwater infrastructure (not the same thing as a municipal sewer)- connecting to an existing storm drain at the curb or another similar connection. This is a great option if it is permitted, as you do not have to worry about installing dry-wells or other stormwater collection and recharge devices on your property. This can save money, and speed up installation time. However, many municipal stormwater systems cannot handle additional flow, and many municipalities specifically prohibit connecting private runoff drainage into municipal systems. So, definitely not an option for everyone.

B) Cultec Chambers or similar "dry-wells". A "Dry well" is typically a concrete or plastic tank, installed below ground level, which is sized according to anticipated flow (how much surface area of impervious coverage is going to be collected X a predetermined number of inches of rainfall in a given period of time)- essentially determining water storage capacity, in gallons, and anticipated rate of percolation of that collected water, into the ground. Percolation rates vary tremendously depending on the soil in which the dry-wells are installed, the depth of the water table, if there is a "perched" water table, and the amount of additional surface runoff adjacent, which may inadvertently end up in the wells. These are a great solution to collect and hold stormwater runoff below ground (completely buried in your yard, usually beneath your lawn), as they help comply with stormwater management BMP's, prevent you from flooding your neighbors' basement with roof, patio, or driveway runoff, and allow you to address the runoff without a municipal tie-in. They're a great option, they can be very effective if properly installed (proper installation is critical- maintaining proper distance away from well heads, septic systems, wetlands etc.

C) Surface emitters. A surface emitter is generally the most cost-effective option to address surface runoff. Simply put, it is a 8" round "green disc" that is installed into a 90* bend at the end of the drain line. Usually they are installed out into a lawn area, away from the home and other structures like well heads and septic fields. They have a "pop up" center disc which, when water is present in the outflow line, "pops up" and allows the water in the line to run out, onto the lawn. When the rain stops, the center disc closes automatically, preventing dirt and debris from clogging the line. This system works well when runoff can be piped away from the home, perhaps to a tree-line, portion of the lawn which is infrequently used after periods of heavy rain, etc. It is not ideal when space is constrained on a property, as the rainfall runoff collected by gutters will flow on the surface out into the lawn (thereby making the lawn muddy/wet following periods of prolonged rainfall). However, it does allow the runoff to be channeled away from the home's foundation and other systems, which is critical to keeping your basement dry and septic system working properly. It is also a very cost effective option, especially when compared to a dry-well system.

Here is a picture of a Cultec Chamber dry-well system being installed- it was sized for the amount of gallonage anticipated to be entering the system in heavy rainfall events, accounting for the topography of the site and the percolation rate of the soil.

As with everything, knowledge of properly designing and installing drainage system components is critical to ensure the system works properly for many years to come with minimal maintenance.

If you have a water issue on your property, contact us today to learn more about how we can keep your property and your basement, dry.

Remember, when you have a water problem, don't stress, just call KDS! 201.575.1436 or [email protected]

02/25/2026

Wednesday drainage trivia!

Was your house built in New Jersey, Southern New York, or portions Pennsylvania in the late 40's, '50's, 60's or early 70's? If it was, there is a very good chance your home's footing drain, interior drains or septic lines may be Orangeburg Pipe.

Orangeburg Pipe was manufactured in Orangeburg NY from the late 1880's into the 70's, although it's "peak" usage was during the Post WWII housing boom from the late 1940's into the early 70's. It was hailed as the "drainage tile of the future" as it was lightweight, inexpensive and widely used by hundreds if not thousands of general contractors, excavators, and homeowners of the era. Much lighter weight than traditional concrete or iron pipe of the time, it installed quickly and seemed very durable.

However, as time would tell, Orangeburg Pipe was not quite the miracle drain tile that it was cracked up to be. Thousands of homes and properties where it was used are in need of replacement footing drains, interior drains, septic lines and leach fields because of its use.

Why? Orangeburg was made of compressed sawdust and creosote tar, which, while inexpensive and lightweight, degrades over time. 50-75 years after its original installation, we usually find it completely flattened or degraded to the point where we can hardly tell there was a pipe there at all, other than the black creosote dust in the soil.

If your home has issues with basement water, leader drains that don't drain, septic lines which backup and need replacement, it could be due to failed Orangeburg pipe!

Don't worry, we can run an advanced camera through your drainage pipes to determine the issue and make recommendations for repair or replacement based on our findings. No guessing what the issue is or where it is- solve the issue correctly the first time and don't worry anymore!

Today, competent drainage contractors use heavy-wall PVC Drain Tile- SDR-35, Schedule 40 or other similar pipe, depending on the project and specifications required to ensure a long lasting durable repair or new installation. PVC has been in use since the late 1970's and when installed correctly, has been proven to last well over 50+ years with no issues whatsoever.

Contact us today to learn more! 201.575.1436 or [email protected] or shoot us a message here!

01/28/2026

Do you have gutter leaders that just dump out against your foundation?

Excessive water against your home’s foundation can cause: basement walls to bow and buckle, basement flooding, concrete block deterioration, mold and moisture issues in your home… yikes!

What’s the solution?

A well designed and installed leader drainage system complete with properly installed drain tile and Cultec Chambers to ensure your roof runoff doesn’t flood your neighbors basement 😬

The ground is snow covered now, but before we know it, spring melting and spring rains will be here! Don’t let your home’s basement get soggy, have it addressed properly!

Give us a call at 201-575-1436 to learn more!

08/20/2025

Gutters backing up in this heavy rain? Could be due to clogged or collapsed leader drains. Overflowing gutters can cause significant damage to your home’s foundation over time- don’t let your foundation get waterlogged, give Koski Drainage Solutions a call today! 201-575-1436 or email us at [email protected]

07/31/2025

We are anticipating some intense rainfall in NNJ over the next 12-24 hours, if you experience water issues in or around your home, give us a call! We can help! 201-575-1436

03/06/2025

Is your yard soggy this morning after the heavy rain? We can fix that!

03/05/2025

Heavy Rain is in the forecast today here in NJ! If your leader drains are backing up or look like this, give us a call! We can snake the lines, run a camera through to find the issue at its source and help keep your basement dry! 201-575-1436 or [email protected]

10/27/2022

Welcome to Koski Drainage Solutions! Check out our website at www.koskidrainagesolutions.com! We are your contractor for professional, prompt and economical drainage and stormwater solutions in North Jersey!

At Koski Drainage Solutions, we bring true professionalism to solving your drainage issues. Our 20+ years of combined experience in the drainage, excavation and land inspection consulting fields allow us to solve complex drainage issues efficiently and economically.