According to Illinois drainage law, you cannot be blocked from your natural outlet, . If you can't secure a gentlemen's agreement, an attorney will need to be consulted.
We ask that you refrain from working fields any more than absolutely necessary. As you know, we will have equipment in the field which can create compaction. This will need "broken up" with tillage equipment. Therefore, it's also in your best interest to minimize time and fuel used, until after the project is completed.
This depends an a number of factors, including the severity of the drainage problem and the cost to remedy. Typical paybacks usually
are in the range of 2-10 years. To estimate your own payback, this is a spreadsheet by ADS which may be of assistance.
No, not with SFDI. We do however, recommend a complete, engineered "master plan" so that watershed acres are taken into account. This insures correct main sizing and accounting for any factors which will effect the overall system design. Once a plan is agreed to, the project may be completed in "phases", at the customer's direction.
Most definitely. Intercepting the water as it migrates to lower elevations contains your inputs and soil. This also reduces the amount of water which concentrates at lower elevations (ponding).
Wait as long as possible. At least until 3 or 4 solid rainfall events, which promote settling. It is much easier to level off mounds, than to fill in settling below grade. Consider that while it may appear there is extra dirt mounded over the trenchline, it came out of the trench in the first place. If premature leveling is required for field operations, leave it mounded as high as operations will allow.
The short answer is, "we don't". That's why we only plow tile as part of a total, patterned system, unless specifically directed otherwise. On patterned field systems, we "open cut" all main trenches and perimeter laterals where there is a chance of incoming tiles from neighboring fields. Further, as part of the planning process, any existing tile maps or information is requested. In many cases, we also conduct exploratory trenching to determine existing tiles of consequence. We have yet to dig in a field, which does not have some sort of existing tile in it!
Before that can be answered, a soil analysis is required by most county health departments. This is performed by a soil scientist. With this information, the type of system and size can be determined. We can arrange for the soil analysis, or we can provide contact information.
In many cases, a septic plan is required AT THE TIME you apply for a building permit. We can arrange for a soil analysis, and assemble a plan for you to submit. It is helpful, but not required, that you provide a site plan.
Lets be honest, this is THE #1 FAQ. Every project is different. While some contractors roam the country quoting fixed per acre costs, the truth is every project is different. What we can tell you is, a plan will be provided beforehand with all the details and costs worked out. One thing is for sure, "you're paying for drainage, whether you have it or not"!
Ok, maybe not the #1 FAQ, but close. Weather and field conditions play a MAJOR role in the amount of time available for work, making it virtually impossible to pinpoint exact dates. While most customers desire tiling to be done in the fall/winter, this is also the worst time of year to plan on good conditions. One way to speed up the process, is to allow mains to be installed during the summer months, with the laterals being installed in the fall/winter. Ask us about crop damage compensation for this method.