Q: I have a sump pump for my basement that pumps out about a gallon of water once or twice a day. I am wanting to pipe the water out into my yard but I don't want a big hole where it drains. I was thinking about digging a hole/ditch at the end of the pipe and putting some rock to fill in the hole. Any suggestions? What size hole/ditch etc? Also, should I just use straight pvc pipe (2 1/2") or would it be better to use the perforated stuff?

You'd be creating a French drain and that would be fine. I trenched 3' down with a Ditchwitch and put in 200' for perforated black plastic pipe that's fabric covered. I pump a great deal of water so I needed to get this as far away as possible. If you decide to use perforated pipe be sure its fabric covered otherwise it will fill with silt on a few short years.

Your french drain,(see image) sounds like a great idea. Treat it exactly like a drain field using 3 inch perforated PVC pipe. Regards, Tom

You'd be creating a French drain and that would be fine. I trenched 3' down with a Ditchwitch and put in 200' for perforated black plastic pipe thats fabric covered. I pump a great deal of water so I needed to get this as far away as possible. If you decide to use perforated pipe be sure its fabric covered otherwise it will fill with silt on a few short years.

It freezes in the winter here, but 3' down should be enough right?

You will have significantly less sump water once it has frozen outside. My frost line is 42" but a 3' trench working fine for this sump drain.

You will have significantly less sump water once it has frozen outside. My frost line is 42" but a 3' trench working fine for this sump drain.


Should my pipe be down at the 3' line, or in the middle like at the 1 1/2 foot line

I laid the pipe on the botton of the trench with only a small amount of gravel above and below. It would take a year or two for your yard to fully settle after you back fill.