Treasure Valley, Idaho · Irrigation and Drainage
Water that reaches the roots and leaves the yard where it should.
Altavera Construction designs and installs irrigation and yard drainage for homeowners across Ada, Canyon, and Gem counties, from drip and rotor zones to French drains, catch basins, and regraded swales. We plan where water arrives and where it exits before a trench is cut, and this is outdoor drainage work, not basement waterproofing.
Built to a Higher Standard
Treasure Valley yards rarely have one water problem; they usually have a supply question and a runoff question at the same time.
Irrigation starts with a question many homeowners never think to ask: where does your water come from? Some lots draw from canals and laterals managed by an irrigation district, some are still flood irrigated, and many newer subdivisions run on pressurized irrigation. The supply is usually seasonal, so a system has to start cleanly in spring, run efficiently through hot dry summers, and drain down before hard freezes. Canal water also carries sediment that a potable line never sees, which shapes filtration and head choices.
Below the surface, compacted fill and dense soil keep water from soaking in. Overwatered lawns turn soggy, downspouts dump onto the same low spot every storm, and freeze-thaw heaves anything resting in saturated ground. New builds often shed water toward patios and foundations when the final grade was rushed, and sloped lots with sandy soil can erode fast once runoff concentrates. Mature trees and tight side yards add another layer, since drain lines and irrigation mains have to route around root zones instead of straight through them.
How Altavera handles it
Every project starts by mapping the water: the supply source, the slope, where roof runoff lands, and where it can safely exit the lot. Drainage and grading are set first, then irrigation mains, valves, and sleeves go in, so hardscape and planting finish on ground that already handles water.
What's Included
01
Each zone is matched to what it waters. Drip feeds shrubs, perennials, and xeriscape beds at the root, spray heads cover tight lawn panels and narrow side yards, and rotors handle larger turf areas. Zones are split by sun exposure and plant type so a shady lawn is not drowned to keep a south-facing slope green in July.
Includes
02
We connect new systems to pressurized irrigation or canal-fed supplies and pair them with smart controllers that adjust to weather. On district water, filtration and valve placement account for sediment. The goal is a system that starts up cleanly each spring, waters efficiently in peak heat, and drains down without fuss when the season ends.
Includes
03
Where compacted fill or dense soil keeps water sitting on the surface, we collect it and carry it away. French drains use perforated pipe in clean aggregate wrapped in filter fabric, and catch basins grab water at known low spots. Every line runs to a planned outlet, because a drain with nowhere to go just moves the puddle.
Includes
04
Sometimes the fix is the shape of the ground itself. We regrade lots so water moves away from the house and cut shallow swales that guide runoff across the yard. On slopes, swales are lined or armored with rock to slow water down so loose soil stays where it belongs.
Includes
05
Patios, walkways, and driveways that pitch toward a wall or door get a channel drain set flush with the surface, tied into the same outlet plan as the rest of the yard.
06
Roof water is often the largest single source of runoff on a lot. We route downspouts into buried lines that discharge away from foundations, patios, and erodible slopes instead of onto them.
07
Sleeves go in before concrete or pavers so future lines can pass underneath without demolition. If a patio is part of the plan, sleeves belong in that scope.
Why One Team Matters Here
Irrigation and drainage work against each other when different companies install them. A sprinkler crew rarely thinks about outlets, and a drainage crew rarely thinks about zones.
01
Zones are laid out knowing where the drains are, so irrigation does not feed the same low spot the drainage is trying to empty. On compacted or slow-draining ground, that coordination is the difference between a lawn and a bog.
02
Mains, valves, drain lines, and sleeves are installed and checked before patios, walls, or sod go down. Nothing gets trenched back open to fix a missed connection.
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Before we dig, we know where collected water will discharge on your property. That keeps runoff off a neighbor's lot, off the sidewalk, and off an erodible slope.
04
You talk to one team about grading, drains, irrigation, and landscaping. When the system is tested at the end, the people who designed it are the people standing in the yard with you.
From First Call to Final Walkthrough
A free 15-minute call to talk through your irrigation and drainage system project and your lot, so we both know whether it is a good match. Book it any time at our consultation calendar.
An estimator reviews the scope and site details, confirms the project fits what Altavera builds, and sets up an on-site visit if it does.
We walk the property, trace slope and runoff paths, locate the water source and existing lines, and note soil conditions like compacted fill or loose, erodible ground.
You receive a written scope covering layout, materials, permit needs, and build order, ready to review before you commit.
A deposit locks a start on the calendar. Materials are ordered and the work is lined up around the build sequence.
Drainage and grading go first, underground utilities and irrigation second, hardscape and structures third, and landscaping and finish work last.
We walk the finished project with you, confirm everything works as intended, and close out the punch list.
Where We Build
Altavera designs and installs irrigation systems, French drains, catch basins, regrading, swales, and downspout routing for homes throughout Ada, Canyon, and Gem counties. Choose your city for local details on soil, permits, and the yards we build in.
If your irrigation or drainage scope requires a permit, Altavera pulls it and manages the process with the city or county.
Planning more? See Phasing an outdoor project or New-build backyard: where to start.
FAQ
It depends on the site, so there is no honest number before a visit. Zone count, the water source, trench length, soil conditions, slope, and whether drainage has to be corrected first all shape the scope. After the on-site estimate you receive a written proposal covering the full scope, and financing is available through a third-party partner up to $100,000.
Altavera serves homeowners across Ada, Canyon, and Gem counties, including Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, Kuna, Middleton, Garden City, and Emmett. If you are elsewhere in the Treasure Valley, book a free 15-minute phone consult and we will confirm the fit.
Yes, in most cases. Many Treasure Valley lots receive seasonal water through canals and laterals, and we design systems around that supply, with filtration, valve placement, and head selection planned for the sediment it carries. If a property is currently flood irrigated, we look at whether converting to zoned delivery makes sense and how it fits your irrigation district's rules for the lot.
Usually because compacted fill or dense soil below the topsoil keeps water from soaking in, so it spreads sideways and pools. The fix is often a combination of regrading, French drains or catch basins at low points, and rezoning irrigation so it stops overwatering the same area.
We slow water down and route it deliberately. Sandy, loose soils erode fast when runoff concentrates, so we bury downspout lines, shape rock-lined swales, and use drip irrigation on slopes instead of spray that runs off. Outlets are placed where discharge will not undercut a slope or send water onto a neighboring lot.
It depends on your neighborhood and the scope. Many planned communities review landscape and grading changes, so we plan the scope with that review in mind. When the work requires a permit, Altavera pulls it and manages it with the city or county.
Often, yes, as long as the ground is workable. Trenching, mains, valves, sleeves, and drainage do not need water in the lines, so much of the underground can be built while the irrigation supply is shut off. Final testing and head adjustment need the water running, so that step follows when the supply returns.
No. Altavera handles yard and outdoor drainage: grading, swales, French drains in the landscape, catch basins, channel drains, and downspout routing, while interior waterproofing, crawlspace systems, and foundation repair belong with a basement or foundation specialist. If water reaches the house because of poor exterior grade or roof runoff dumping against the wall, that outdoor piece is something we can address as part of a yard project.
Start Your Project
Request a quote and tell us where water pools, runs off, or never reaches. We will walk your property, trace the slope, the supply, and the roof runoff, and hand you a written proposal before a single trench is opened.
Prefer to talk? Call 208-314-9967 or try our instant quote.
Licensed & Insured · Idaho Contractor License #6971895 · Serving the Treasure Valley
We elevate outdoor spaces with professional planning, expert execution, and quality craftsmanship — because your outdoor space is an extension of your home, not an afterthought.
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Idaho Contractor License ID #6971895 · Women-Owned Business
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3313 W Cherry Lane Suite 1053 Meridian, ID 83642