Neighbors have faulty sprinkler system

[wuzzer]

What is the name of your state? GA
Whenever our neighbors run their sprinkler system our backyard gets soggy to the point where we cannot put our 2 large dogs back there. We have confronted them nicely and they claim that they had the sprinkler system checked out. Today I invited her over to my yard and showed her the water build-up, which only occurs when she runs her sprinklers. I went over to her yard and it is very soggy and you can feel the water build-up under the grass. She claims the water is coming from the other neighbor next door. Not true..that side of the yard is dry. We have had the planning dept., the builder and several irrigation specialists out as we were planning to have a french drain system put in at our expense. We are told that the drain would be a waste of money until their irrigation system is repaired. We then asked them to at least install a system where the water would not run into our yard and they refused. Do I have legal recourse? Can I pay for an irrigation specialist to inspect their system at my charge just to prove my point? Then they would be forced to fix it, right? I think the issue is that they didn't pay to have the system installed to save money and had "kids of a friend" install it. Please help.

[Cedrus]

Some non- legal comments:

A french drain probably would take care of the problem if you can catch all their runoff and have enough elevation to take it away from your property and not onto someone else's property. Usually 1/4 inch per foot grade will do the trick.

Are neighbor's sprinklers on a timer? Are they gear driven or stationary pop-ups? I would not think they would want their own property soggy. Are they stupid or stubborn or**************..?

Is this a new subdivision with newly laid sod? Maybe the builder and his subcontractor landscaper did not grade the lots correctly.

Is this city water or well water? There might be restrictions on city water about excessive usage.

[Sunbreeze67]

Hi:
If a neighbor next door refuses to admit the issue about which you're concerning, then you could call to the City administrator to come and inspect a current situation..., getting soggy because of next door's refusal to admit the current situation.

However, as much as possible, try to resolve the matter in a neighborly and friendly manner. Because, there is a work involved, not only neighbor's, but also your's. It takes quite awhile to settle, if an authority involves. Also, on other side of coin, what you can not see some issues around your home, your neighbor, next door might dislike and report to them. Simply and truthfully, it's very hard for us, home-owners to make everything perfect.

In my opinion, .... if you're musing about a drastic action, such as calling an authority, tredge very carefully.

[moburkes]

Originally Posted by Sunbreeze67

Hi:
If a neighbor next door refuses to admit the issue about which you're concerning, then you could call to the City administrator to come and inspect a current situation..., getting soggy because of next door's refusal to admit the current situation.

However, as much as possible, try to resolve the matter in a neighborly and friendly manner. Because, there is a work involved, not only neighbor's, but also your's. It takes quite awhile to settle, if an authority involves. Also, on other side of coin, what you can not see some issues around your home, your neighbor, next door might dislike and report to them. Simply and truthfully, it's very hard for us, home-owners to make everything perfect.

In my opinion, .... if you're musing about a drastic action, such as calling an authority, tredge very carefully.

OP has already said that they have spoken to people who work for the city.

We have had the planning dept., the builder and several irrigation specialists out as we were planning to have a french drain system put in at our expense. We are told that the drain would be a waste of money until their irrigation system is repaired.

[wuzzer]

First of all, thank you all for your comments. We have called out the builder who had the property assessed again and said the grade was within acceptable limits. We have had the city come out and say that it falls on the builder. We have had contractors out who tell us the problem won't be solved unless the neighbors fix their sprinkler system. As an added thorn and even though we had lots of conversation with them yesterday, the idiots RAN THEIR SPRINKLERS AGAIN LAST NIGHT! Yes, it is a combination of stubborness and stupidity. Well, this is our plan which many of you may think is drastic.
We paid for the entire privacy fence because the cheapskates refused to go in on it. They waited for us and the neighbor on the other side to finish our fences so all they had to do was build along the back. Nice. Well, since we have to dig the trench and install the french drain, we can't see where to dig without taking our fence down. We have a sprinkler system also, installed professional by the builder and inspected as this was the mode. We don't want to mess with the lines on our sprinkler system. So, in order to get as close to their property as possible and redirect the water we will remove the entire side of the fence until we are finished. We will leave the posts up for now, but until we are done with the project, they will not have the benefit of the fence we paid for. We have 2 large dogs that cannot go into the soggy backyard anyway, we have lost use of our yard completely.
I asked them yesterday that we find a solution and their response was "at whose expense"..well, I guess it will be our expense, but they will also be inconvenienced. Sound spiteful? I know. Please don't judge me for this as I have tried to work with them amicably..they even still ask us to take care of their pets when they go out of town! (They don't want to pay for a kennel.) Thanks for letting me vent, folks. I appreciate you.

[Blue Meanie]

Originally Posted by wuzzer

First of all, thank you all for your comments. We have called out the builder who had the property assessed again and said the grade was within acceptable limits. We have had the city come out and say that it falls on the builder. We have had contractors out who tell us the problem won't be solved unless the neighbors fix their sprinkler system. As an added thorn and even though we had lots of conversation with them yesterday, the idiots RAN THEIR SPRINKLERS AGAIN LAST NIGHT! Yes, it is a combination of stubborness and stupidity. Well, this is our plan which many of you may think is drastic.
We paid for the entire privacy fence because the cheapskates refused to go in on it. They waited for us and the neighbor on the other side to finish our fences so all they had to do was build along the back. Nice. Well, since we have to dig the trench and install the french drain, we can't see where to dig without taking our fence down. We have a sprinkler system also, installed professional by the builder and inspected as this was the mode. We don't want to mess with the lines on our sprinkler system. So, in order to get as close to their property as possible and redirect the water we will remove the entire side of the fence until we are finished. We will leave the posts up for now, but until we are done with the project, they will not have the benefit of the fence we paid for. We have 2 large dogs that cannot go into the soggy backyard anyway, we have lost use of our yard completely.
I asked them yesterday that we find a solution and their response was "at whose expense"..well, I guess it will be our expense, but they will also be inconvenienced. Sound spiteful? I know. Please don't judge me for this as I have tried to work with them amicably..they even still ask us to take care of their pets when they go out of town! (They don't want to pay for a kennel.) Thanks for letting me vent, folks. I appreciate you.

There is nothing in your post TO judge you on...You are doing what is necessary with a neighbor that is an idiot...

Hope it work out for you...Stay dry...

[PghREA]

We then asked them to at least install a system where the water would not run into our yard and they refused. Do I have legal recourse?

Most municipalities have rules against directing water on to other peoples property. Check with your municipality - and then sue.