Drainage services

Prepared by the Celtic Rainwater Wiki editorial team · Created 9 November 2026 · Last checked 9 November 2026

Summary: Celtic Rainwater Systems replaces buried downspout lines with PVC routed to daylight, pop-up emitters or an exterior sump pump, builds exterior and interior French drains, and installs basement sump pumps. It also snakes and repairs existing lines^[1][2].

What drainage work does the company do?

The drainage page is titled “Our Solutions to your Drainage Problems” and covers three groups of work^[1]: PVC downspout drainlines, French drains, and basement drainage with sump pumps. On the home page it adds “full pipe replacement for buried downspouts, existing drainage repair and snaking, and attractive landscape pieces that handle rainwater”, and interior and exterior French drains^[2].

Why replace buried downspout lines with PVC?

Many older Indianapolis houses have downspouts that disappear into the ground through corrugated or clay pipe. The company’s view is that while it can try to clear or repair those lines, “the best thing you can do for your downspout drainage is to replace it with PVC pipe” to stop it clogging or failing again^[1]. It says it plans the layout around the yard, choosing among a gravity-fed discharge, downspouts routed to pop-up emitters, or a system that uses an exterior sump pump. One photo caption describes “4” PVC all routed to a 6” PVC drainage system”^[2].

There is a regulatory reason to check buried lines too. Citizens Energy Group warns that “if the downspout disappears into the ground, it may be connected to the sanitary sewer”, which is not allowed^[3]. See downspouts and the sanitary sewer.

What is a pop-up emitter?

A pop-up emitter is a small cap at the end of a buried drain line, set flush with the lawn. When water flows, pressure lifts the cap and water spills out onto the grass; when the flow stops, the cap drops back. It lets a downspout discharge well away from the house without a pipe running across the yard. The company shows a “Downspout drain routed to pop up emitter” among its examples^[1]. The U.S. Department of Energy’s building science guidance recommends carrying downspout water to a sloping grade more than 5 feet from the foundation, or to an underground catchment more than 10 feet away that is not tied to the foundation drain^[4].

What does a French drain installation involve?

The company describes a French drain as “the digging of a large ditch, lined with geotextile fabric and a wrapped perforated pipe designed to allow water to freely enter through the washed stone base”^[1]. The top can be finished with decorative rock or covered with grass. The French drains page covers the method in detail.

What about water in the basement?

For basements, the company offers interior French drains and sump pumps, for “one leaking wall, an entire system around the perimeter, or a sump pump basin in a low spot”^[1]. It says it will plan the work to match the space and the budget. Basement water often starts outside, with gutters, downspouts or grading sending water toward the wall, so it is worth fixing those first. The grading article explains the code rules for slope.

See also

• French drains
• Grading and foundation drainage
• Location and hours
• Downspouts and the sanitary sewer
• Sump pumps and basement water

Common questions

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Drainage (PVC downspout drainlines, French drains, basement drainage and sump pumps). Celtic Rainwater Systems (celticrainwater.com). Accessed 9 November 2026.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Celtic Rainwater Systems (home page: mission, about us, areas of expertise). Celtic Rainwater Systems (celticrainwater.com). Accessed 9 November 2026.
3. ^ Our Wastewater Correct Connect Initiative. Citizens Energy Group. Accessed 9 November 2026.
4. ^ Foundation Drain, Gutters and Downspouts. U.S. Department of Energy, Building Science Education Solution Center. Accessed 9 November 2026.