Before grading, which site condition should be checked to prevent drainage problems?

• A. Check Natural Drainage
• B. Install Control Module
• C. Install Irrigation Lines
• D. Compact The Soil

Answer: (A)

Before grading, you want to know how water naturally moves across the site. Checking natural drainage means looking at the current slope, low spots, and how rainwater already runs off the land. This tells you where water collects and where it should be redirected, so grading can direct runoff away from foundations, walkways, and planted areas. If you design the grade with the site's natural drainage in mind, you reduce the risk of standing water, erosion, and drainage problems after work is done.

The other options don’t address how water behaves on the site. A control module is part of an irrigation controller and doesn’t influence ground drainage. Installing irrigation lines isn’t about managing drainage and can complicate how moisture moves across the surface. Compacting the soil tends to reduce infiltration and increase runoff, which can worsen drainage issues rather than prevent them.