Drainage Solutions in Des Moines

Name: Conserva Irrigation of Des Moines
Address: 8906 Hickory Drive,, Urbandale, IA, 50322
Telephone: (515) 368-7328

Residential Backyard Drainage Solutions for Des Moines Homeowners

Standing water after a heavy rain shouldn’t still be there two days later. Conserva Irrigation of Des Moines provides comprehensive drainage solutions that protect your yard, your landscaping, and your home from the damage that excess water accumulation causes. We approach drainage the same way we approach irrigation: as part of responsible outdoor water management, keeping water where it does work and moving it away where it causes harm.

We serve the Des Moines metro, including Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines.

Ready to stop losing ground to standing water? Call us at (515) 368-7328 to schedule a property assessment and get recommendations tailored to your yard.

Signs Your Property Has a Drainage Problem

Most drainage problems announce themselves clearly. You don’t need a professional assessment to recognize the symptoms, though you do need one to address them correctly.

Persistent pooling: Water that remains in low spots or on the lawn 24 to 48 hours after rain has stopped points to a drainage failure, not just heavy rain.
Spongy or soggy ground: If the yard never fully firms up between rain events, subsurface drainage isn’t keeping up.
Plant damage and dying grass patches: Consistently wet areas stress roots. What looks like disease or drought stress is often prolonged saturation.
Water near the foundation or hardscape: Pooling against the house, along fence lines, or beside patios puts your property’s structural and landscape investments at risk.
Mosquito activity: Standing water breeds mosquitoes. Recurring insect pressure in one area of the yard is often a sign that water isn’t draining away.

How Our Drainage Assessment Works

We send a trained team member to assess your property and make recommendations based on your goals and the drainage conditions you experience during periods of high rainfall. The assessment accounts for how water moves across your specific yard, where it accumulates, and what’s contributing to the problem.

Our comprehensive drainage solutions are designed to redirect surface runoff, intercept subsurface water before it saturates plant root zones, and help water flow away from structures rather than pooling against them. Because we also manage irrigation systems, we understand how soil moisture, watering schedules, and drainage all interact. That integrated view supports recommendations that account for the full outdoor water picture.

This page covers landscape and backyard drainage. We don’t provide interior drain cleaning, sump pump installation, or sewer-related services.

Why Des Moines Homeowners Choose Conserva Irrigation of Des Moines for Drainage

We focus on managing water in a way that protects your landscape investment and supports the health of your turf and plants. That distinction matters when the same property also has an irrigation system working to maintain consistent soil moisture.

Our technicians bring irrigation and water management knowledge to every drainage assessment. As partners with Toro and Hunter, we work with quality products and draw on familiarity with how outdoor water systems perform in Des Moines conditions, including clay soil, flat terrain, and the volume of rainfall the area sees each spring. We back our work with a satisfaction guarantee, and our goal is to exceed your expectations, not just meet them.

Schedule Your Drainage Assessment in Des Moines

If your yard is holding water, the problem won’t resolve on its own. Conserva Irrigation of Des Moines serves homeowners throughout the Des Moines metro, including Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines. Contact us to discuss your drainage needs and schedule a property walkthrough.

Call (515) 368-7328 or reach out through our online contact form. A trained team member can assess your property and provide recommendations built around your specific conditions and goals.

Drainage Conditions in the Des Moines Area

Central Iowa receives approximately 36 inches of rain per year, but that figure alone doesn’t tell the full story. The Des Moines area’s clay-heavy soils absorb water slowly, which means even moderate rainfall can overwhelm a yard without adequate drainage. Add relatively flat terrain with limited natural slope, and surface water has nowhere to go unless drainage is deliberately designed to move it.

Iowa’s freeze-thaw cycles compound the problem. Repeated freezing and thawing of saturated soil through late fall, winter, and early spring can worsen existing drainage conditions and stress underground drainage infrastructure over time. Rapid spring snowmelt then adds a surge of water to ground that’s already at capacity, creating short windows of intense drainage demand that many yards simply aren’t equipped to handle.

Common Residential Drainage Approaches

Landscape drainage work typically falls into a few broad categories, each suited to different site conditions and water movement patterns.

Surface grading: Reshaping the ground so water flows away from structures and landscaped areas rather than pooling in low spots.
French drains: Perforated pipe buried in a gravel-filled trench that intercepts and redirects subsurface water moving through the soil.
Catch basins: Below-grade inlets that collect surface runoff and channel it away through an underground pipe system.
Channel drains: Linear drain systems installed along driveways, patios, or hardscape edges where surface water concentrates.

These approaches are often combined. A property with both surface pooling and subsurface saturation may benefit from grading adjustments paired with a French drain. A trained team member’s assessment identifies which solutions fit your specific conditions.

Des Moines Stormwater Subsidy Program

The City of Des Moines Stormwater Best Management Practices Subsidy Program reimburses qualifying property owners 50% of the total cost of approved stormwater management installations, up to a maximum of $2,000. Pre-approval from the City is required before any work begins. This is a City of Des Moines program. Conserva Irrigation of Des Moines does not administer it or determine eligibility. Property owners interested in the subsidy should contact the City of Des Moines directly to confirm qualifying practices and requirements before scheduling any drainage work.

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Services

Types of Drainage Solutions

Direct Pipe

Downspout drains can clog with debris, so the grate can easily be removed to clean the clog.
French Drains

French drains are rock-covered trenches, that lead water into a pipe. That pipe then redirects the water to a more desirable location, or disperses it so there is no standing water in your yard.
Dry Creek Beds

Dry creek beds are a great solution for properties with shaded areas and little slope. They move large amounts of water, cut down on erosion, and can prevent soil movement, while also being effective and aesthetically pleasing. Conserva offers design options that range from simple to elaborate.
Channel Drains

Channel drains are commonly uses to keep driveways, patios, and pool decks free of standing water. These drains include long grates that collect water and move it through underground trenching.
Downspout Drains

Downspout drains connect to your gutter system and are designed to move water away from the house. Downspout drains can be custom to your property, as some need extensions or underground drain lines to prevent pooling water.
Downspout Catch Basin

A downspout and grate combination is used when it is likely that debris will be caught in your drainage system. Trees that hang over your home will lead Conserva to determine you need this component.A downspout and grate combination is used when it is likely that debris will be caught in your drainage system. Trees that hang over your home will lead Conserva to determine you need this component.
Downspout Defender Catch Basin

The downspout defender catch basin utilizes an angled grate to ensure that no debris from your roof enters your drainage system.The drainage defender utilizes an angled grate to ensure that no debris from your roof enters your drainage system.
Pop Up Emitters

Pop up emitters are used to transfer runoff water away from the foundation of your home.

Benefits of Drainage Solutions

Better Lawn Health

The drainage solutions that Conserva offers can stop unwanted mold and fungus from forming on and around the pooling water. Your lawn will be much healthier with a custom drainage project from Conserva.
No Standing Water

Working with Conserva on a drainage project can get rid of the standing water on your lawn, which can wreak havoc on your grass and attract annoying bugs. Get rid of any standing water today with a custom drainage project.
Satisfaction Guarantee

With our drainage services, your satisfaction is of the utmost importance. We want to make sure that you are in love with your custom drainage project - that means we will make sure that it not only solves the drainage issue but is also an aesthetically pleasing addition to your yard.

Steps To Service

How We Improve Irrigation Systems

1

Free Inspection
We evaluate your current setup and create a System Efficiency Score to identify exactly what's working and what's wasting water.
2

Fix the Urgent Stuff
Our experts fix critical issues first, prioritizing repairs that will have the biggest impact on water savings and system performance.
3

Optimize Performance
We fine-tune sprinkler placement, adjust nozzles, and ensure even water distribution across your landscape for maximum efficiency.
4

Upgrade Technology
Replace outdated timers with intelligent controllers and sensors that reduce water usage by 40-60% while keeping your lawn healthy.
5

Keep Things Working
Choose from our maintenance plans to ensure your system stays efficient year after year, protecting your investment and savings.

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