Sometimes a problem occurs on your property and you don’t know who to call. If the problem is outside and has to do with water, chances are you need a civil engineer. The most common civil engineering problem is crumbling stone or concrete. Weirs, walls, bridges, spillways, drains, roads all fail over time thanks to water. For while water may be soothing to look at, once it starts to move and gain momentum it is a powerful force that can cause significant damage. Not that standing water is a good thing either – see our past post on 5 Reasons the HOA needs to call a Civil Engineer for more on that particular concern. Here are 4 of our most frequently recurring civil engineering problems that we have solved here in Jacksonville, FL over the years.
These are the most frequent times we are called by property managers and owners.
#1 CIVIL ENGINEERING PROBLEM – FAILED STORM WATER POND WEIR
The stormwater pond’s weird had deteriorated and started to crack. It was beginning to fail and become a hazard in a variety of ways. and it looked unattractive. By redesigning the weir with durable piping, we were able to restore its viability. With loose rocks, we were able to keep the look natural while sustaining the efficiency of the filter system in place.
#2 PROBLEM – DRAIN FAIL
Standing water is a problem. Not just because of the damage it causes to the road underneath or the wall or roof it rests against, but because it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes While we in Jacksonville don’t often experience malaria, dengue and yellow fever as a result, we do get exposed to the West Nile virus and Zika. Either way, mosquitoes are unpleasant – “they can carry you away”, says one friend in on the Arlington River – and a backed up, ill-functioning drain does nothing but invite them to hang around and breed. A female mosquito may only live 3 weeks but she can have laid 5 clutches of more than 100 eggs each. [See Singapore’s strict rules on standing water, as experienced by a resident reported for over-watering his houseplants!]
In this case, we remediated and repaired the drain, creating a more attractive filtration casement.
#3 CIVIL ENGINEERING PROBLEM – CRUMBLING CONCRETE SPILLWAY
A crumbling concrete spillway is hazardous for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is you can no longer see what is underneath it, nor any additional trouble occurring. It becomes dangerous for foot traffic and deteriorates property values. Constant weather extremes, like excessive heat, humidity, thunder storms, etc. cause the metal components used to frame and support concrete (rebars and the like) to expand & contract. The movement then cause concrete to crack, crumble and generally disintegrate.
When a road drain backs up, the asphalt starts to crumble and cave in. Not only does this give the neighborhood an unkempt look it is also dangerous. Not to mention a warning that something more sinister could be starting to happen, like, in extreme circumstances, a sink hole. Drains can get blocked up by garbage, vegetation growing unchecked or leaves piling up and silt. Equally, a drain can fail thanks to erosion, excessive water pressure in the ground below and beside the drain lining, vehicular traffic driving too close or over the top and by sewage. In order to avoid these kinds of issues, beyond regular, routine maintenance, a civil engineer can best advise a property owner or manager of the cause of the drain fail, and then the solution can be undertaken just once. When a property owner merely calls in a landscaper or street cleaner, the problem can recur until the real cause is rectified.
In each of the cases mentioned here, it is always better to repair the cause not just the symptoms. If you notice standing water, crumbling concrete or road failure in your neighborhood, have your association management company reach out to a professional civil engineer. What’s that old saying, ” a stitch in time saves nine?” Infrastructure spending may not be sexy and fun, but it is vital.
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