Planning aid, not construction approval
Wrivel is an early-planning aid, not legal advice, a land survey or professional engineering/geotechnical advice. It does not determine flood-zone status, foundation safety, permit compliance, peak-flow pipe capacity, groundwater elevation, soil bearing capacity, property rights or whether a field drain-down observation satisfies a formal infiltration-test requirement.
Before excavation
Use the applicable buried-utility locating service, verify property boundaries and easements, and check local rules before digging. In the United States, 811 is the common utility-locate service; outside the U.S., use the local equivalent. Do not infer utility clearance from a Wrivel sketch.
Foundation and building water
Water at or inside a building can involve grading, waterproofing, roof drainage, foundation drainage, sewer or groundwater conditions beyond a yard-routing calculation. If water is entering a building or threatening materials, electrical systems or structural components, use an appropriate local professional.
Slope, retaining wall and erosion risk
Do not use a simple grade percentage as proof that a slope, retaining wall or excavated trench is stable. Concentrating runoff can accelerate erosion or create instability. Steep routes and earthwork near structures deserve site-specific review.
Groundwater and infiltration
A fast shallow-hole drain-down observation does not prove that a dry well, rain garden or other infiltration feature is suitable. Seasonal groundwater, restrictive layers, bedrock, contamination concerns and jurisdictional requirements can invalidate a simple field screen.
Discharge rights and neighbor impacts
A lower point is not automatically a lawful outlet. Verify whether runoff may be discharged to the proposed location and whether the route affects neighboring property, a street, ditch, storm sewer, watercourse or public infrastructure.
High-consequence conditions
If water is entering a building, threatening a retaining wall or slope, backing up from a sanitary or storm sewer, creating an electrical hazard, or producing another immediate safety/property risk, use emergency or professional services appropriate to the situation rather than relying on this browser tool.
Use local requirements
Local codes and agencies can require specific design storms, infiltration tests, setbacks, overflow controls, permits or professional design. Those requirements take priority over a generic online planning estimate.