Drainage & Stormwater Solutions in Oneida County NY
Water Goes Where the Ground Tells It To
If water collects against your foundation, floods your yard after every rain, or saturates your leach field, the ground is sending it to the wrong place. We design and install drainage systems that redirect water away from structures, off your property, and into proper discharge points. French drains, catch basins, culverts, stormwater management systems, and full property drainage solutions for residential, commercial, and municipal properties across Central New York.
Our Drainage & Stormwater Services
We handle every category of excavation and site work under one operation. Each service below links to a dedicated page with full details,
process information, and answers to common questions.
French Drains & Curtain Drains
Subsurface drainage systems that intercept groundwater before it reaches your foundation, basement, or low-lying areas. A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects and redirects water underground. Curtain drains work on the same principle but are positioned uphill to intercept water flowing downslope. We install both for residential and commercial applications.
Catch Basins, Yard Drains & Dry Wells
Surface drainage systems that collect standing water from low spots, downspout runoff, and paved areas. Catch basins and yard drains collect water at the surface and route it through an underground pipe to a discharge point. Dry wells receive water underground and allow it to percolate into the surrounding soil. We also install trench drains for driveways, garage aprons, and commercial parking areas.
Culvert Installation & Replacement
Every driveway that crosses a ditch or drainage swale needs a properly sized culvert. We install new culverts for residential, commercial, and municipal applications, and replace collapsed, plugged, or undersized culverts that cause road washouts and upstream flooding. In rural Central New York, culvert work is one of the most common drainage jobs we handle. water management, and proper drainage protects foundations, basements, and septic systems from water damage.
Stormwater Management Systems
Commercial and municipal projects often require engineered stormwater management to meet permit requirements. We excavate and construct detention basins, retention basins, and stormwater conveyance systems. We install erosion and sediment controls for SWPPP compliance and handle stormwater tie-ins to municipal systems. Developers, general contractors, and municipalities rely on us for this work.
Not every drainage problem needs a new system. Sometimes the fix is regrading the yard, reshaping a swale, extending a downspout line, or correcting a slope that was graded incorrectly. We start every drainage project with a site evaluation to determine what is causing the problem before recommending a solution. This prevents overbuilding and keeps your costs where they should be.
Drainage Services Across Central New York
Most water problems on a property are drainage problems. A wet basement, a yard that stays soggy for days after rain, erosion along a hillside, or a driveway that washes out every spring. These are all signs that water is not being managed correctly on your property. The fix is rarely complicated, but it does require the right equipment and an understanding of how water moves through soil, across grade, and into collection systems.
Hale Excavation is a veteran-owned, licensed, and insured drainage contractor with over 35 years of construction experience. We handle everything from single-home yard drainage fixes to commercial stormwater management systems and municipal infrastructure. Our crews evaluate the property, identify where water is coming from and where it needs to go, then install the system that solves it.
We serve homeowners, builders, developers, property managers, and municipalities throughout Oneida County, Herkimer County, Madison County, and surrounding communities. Free estimates, free second opinions, and free consultations on every drainage project.
Not Sure What Drainage Solution You Need?
Describe the problem. We will match it to the right fix during a free site visit.
- Water Pools Against Your Foundation or Seeps Into Your Basement
What you likely need: French drain along the foundation, regrading, or a combination of both. The goal is to intercept water before it reaches the wall.
Start here: French Drains
- Yard Stays Soggy or Has Permanent Puddles in Low Spots
What you likely need: Catch basin or yard drain in the low area, connected to an underground discharge line. If the entire yard holds water, regrading may be the better solution.
Start here: Catch Basins
- Driveway Culvert Is Plugged, Crushed, or Washing Out
What you likely need: Culvert replacement with proper sizing, headwalls, and erosion protection at both ends.
Start here: Culvert Installation
- New Construction or Development Requires a Stormwater Permit
What you likely need: Engineered stormwater system, detention or retention basin, erosion controls, and SWPPP compliance documentation.
Start here: Stormwater Management
- Erosion Washing Away Soil on a Hillside or Along a Ditch
What you likely need: Swale reconstruction, riprap placement, slope grading, or a retaining wall. Erosion usually requires both grading work and a drainage solution working together.
Start here: Retaining Walls
What We Stand For
It Protects Foundations, Basements, and Crawl Spaces
Water against a foundation wall creates hydrostatic pressure that causes cracking, bowing, and seepage. According to FEMA, just
one inch of standing water inside a home can cause up to $25,000 in damage. A properly installed drainage system prevents water from reaching the structure in the first place.
It Makes Your Property Usable Year-Round
A yard that floods every time
it rains is unusable. Soggy
ground kills landscaping, creates mosquito breeding habitat, and makes outdoor areas impractical for months at a time. Proper drainage dries out the property and keeps it functional in all seasons.
It Protects Septic Systems from Failure
Excess surface water saturating the soil around a leach field prevents the system from draining properly. This leads to backup, odor, and premature failure. Drainage grading and water diversion around the drain field extend the life of the entire septic system.
It Stops Small Problems from Becoming Big Ones
Water against a foundation wall creates hydrostatic pressure that causes cracking, bowing, and seepage. According to FEMA, just
one inch of standing water inside a home can cause up to $25,000 in damage. A properly installed drainage system prevents water from reaching the structure in the first place.
Three Decades of Major Project Experience
Hale Excavation LLC is a new venture led by Eric Hale, who brings extensive experience in landfill construction, environmental remediation, road construction, and federal projects. He has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service, the Air Force, and major environmental firms throughout his career.
1991
Laborer & Surveyor
- Auburn, NY · Cayuga County
Eric returned from the Army to work full-time in construction while staying in the Army Reserves. Joined the apprenticeship program to become a certified operating engineer during this project (completed 1997, a certification he still holds).
1993
Laborer · Surveyor · Heavy Equipment Operator
- Malone, NY · Franklin County
Eric took on expanded field responsibilities on this project, working across three trades: laborer, surveyor, and heavy equipment operator.
1994
Laborer · Surveyor · Heavy Equipment Operator
- Frankfort, NY · Herkimer County
Constructed leachate collection and site drainage in 1994–95. Landfill closure completed in 1996. Gas removal windmill built in 1997. Eric worked across all phases of this multi-year project.
1998
Superintendent (First Time)
- Sodus, NY · Wayne County
Eric’s first job as a project superintendent — the beginning of his transition from the field to project leadership.
2008
Superintendent
- Wampsville, NY · Madison County
Cell 7 liner system construction on the Madison County Landfill. By this point Eric was running full field operations independently.
2012
Project Manager (First Time)
- Stanley, NY (Ontario County) + Morrisonville, NY (Clinton County)
Two of the largest projects Eric managed in his first year as a project manager. He worked on several other projects that year, but these were the biggest. Marks his transition from field superintendent to full project management.
2022
Senior Project Manager
- Middlesboro, KY + McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
2022 marked the first time Eric ever worked outside of New York State. He worked as senior project manager on both federal projects, plus several others that year.
2025
Founder · Owner · Director of Operations
- Sauquoit, NY · Oneida County
Eric founds Hale Excavation LLC — bringing 35 years of experience home to Central New York. From here we serve Oneida County, the Mohawk Valley, Herkimer, Madison, and surrounding counties. The scale is more personal now. The standards, work ethic, and project management discipline are exactly the same.
Projects listed above were completed under previous employers. They represent Eric Hale’s personal project resume and experience. Hale Excavation LLC was founded in November 2025.
Serving Central New York and the Mohawk Valley
From Utica and Rome through the Mohawk Valley, north into Lewis County, west across Onondaga, south into Chenango and Cortland — we work the full Central New York region. Our home base is Sauquoit, and our standard service radius is one to two hours from Utica. For the right project, we travel further.
What is the best drainage solution for standing water in a yard?
It depends on the cause. If the yard has a low spot, a catch basin connected to an underground discharge line is usually the simplest fix. If water is flowing toward the house from uphill, a French drain or curtain drain intercepts it before it arrives. A site visit determines which approach fits your property.
How much does a drainage system cost?
Cost varies by system type, length, depth, and site conditions. We provide free estimates with a clear scope of work and no surprises. Every project is different, so a site visit is the best way to get an accurate number for your property.
Do you handle both residential and commercial drainage?
Yes. We install yard drains and French drains for homeowners, and we build detention basins, retention ponds, and stormwater conveyance systems for commercial developers and municipalities. Same crew, same standards, different scale.
Can you fix drainage problems without tearing up my whole yard?
In many cases, yes. Targeted solutions like catch basins, downspout drain lines, and localized regrading can solve the problem without disturbing the entire property. We always look for the least disruptive solution that still solves the root cause.
How do I get a free estimate for drainage work?
Call us at (315) 982-3673 or contact us online. We schedule a site visit, evaluate how water moves across your property, and provide a written estimate with our recommended solution.
Drainage & Stormwater Service Questions
