Services
Irrigation & Drainage Solutions in Oakland, CA
Drip conversions typically run $1,500–$5,000; drainage systems $2,500–$10,000.
East Bay water problems come in two seasons: summer, when irrigation waste shows up on your EBMUD bill, and winter, when runoff shows up in your crawlspace. We build and repair both sides of the system — efficient drip and smart-controller irrigation, and French drains, channel drains, and dry wells that move winter water away from foundations.
Clay soil makes drainage a design problem, not a shovel problem: water moves across our soil far more than through it. We map where water enters, where it pools, and where it can legally go before we cut a single trench.
What's included
- Drip conversion and sprinkler-to-drip retrofits, zone by zone
- Smart controllers (weather-based) — set up and programmed for your yard
- French drains, channel drains, downspout tie-ins, and dry wells
- Grading corrections that fix pooling without new hardware
- Irrigation audits: coverage, leaks, and a water-savings estimate
How it works
- Water walkthrough. Summer or winter problem, we trace the system (or the puddles) first.
- Fixed quote. Scope, route, and price in writing — including restoration of anything we trench.
- Install. Most irrigation jobs: 1–3 days. Drainage: 2–5 days.
- Test & tune. We run every zone and every drain with you watching.
Irrigation & Drainage — questions & answers
Why is there standing water in my yard every winter?
Usually a combination of clay soil, grading that tilts toward the house, and downspouts dumping roof water at the foundation. The fix is some mix of regrading, French drain, and downspout tie-ins — we'll tell you which after one walkthrough, and the answer is often smaller than you fear.
Is drip irrigation worth it?
On beds and shrubs, almost always: 30–50% less water than spray, healthier plants, and fewer weeds because you're not watering the gaps. Payback on a typical conversion is a couple of summers of EBMUD bills.
Can you repair my existing sprinkler system?
Yes — broken heads, stuck valves, controller upgrades, and coverage fixes. If the system's worth keeping, we'll repair it; if it's fighting you, we'll say so.
Where does drain water legally go in Oakland?
To the street or storm system via approved routes — not onto a neighbor's lot. We design routes that comply with Oakland's rules and handle any required connections.