French drain working?

I have a French drain system installed from backyard, through my side yard, to a pop up emitter in the front yard. A gradual swale is built along the path of the French drain, which allows surface water to flow along this route, as well. Recently, during extremely heavy rains, we’ve noticed some pooling in the side yard above the French drain. However, the pooling is absorbed into the soil (and assuming into the French drain) within 30 minutes or so.. I took the attached at the pop up emitter in the front yard a couple days after a very heavy rain. Is it normal to have some standing water in the drain while the ground is still saturated? I’m trying to wrap my head around how the water would be expelled given the gradual slope and 6-8 inch upward stretch of pipe at the pop up emitter. When rain is consistent, the pop up emitter is expelling water (assume since the pipe is full and flowing). Thoughts welcome!!! submitted by /u/bmanning41 [link] [comments]

May 20, 2025 - 16:52

I have a French drain system installed from backyard, through my side yard, to a pop up emitter in the front yard.

A gradual swale is built along the path of the French drain, which allows surface water to flow along this route, as well.

Recently, during extremely heavy rains, we’ve noticed some pooling in the side yard above the French drain. However, the pooling is absorbed into the soil (and assuming into the French drain) within 30 minutes or so..

I took the attached at the pop up emitter in the front yard a couple days after a very heavy rain.

Is it normal to have some standing water in the drain while the ground is still saturated? I’m trying to wrap my head around how the water would be expelled given the gradual slope and 6-8 inch upward stretch of pipe at the pop up emitter.

When rain is consistent, the pop up emitter is expelling water (assume since the pipe is full and flowing).

Thoughts welcome!!!

submitted by /u/bmanning41
[link] [comments]