Backyard Sump Pump
May 19, 2019
I have had enough of the frequent backyard flooding (to the point that the koi can swim out of the pond) and groundwater seeping into the basement.
what says congratulations to my son for finishing college (#4years!) this week better than ditch digging through solid Oak Park clay?
The flooding will definitely end, but I'm hoping the 20 inch reduction in hydrostatic pressure (the well filled nearly to the top before we plugged in the pump) will keep the foundation effluence down.
While basement sump pumps are ubiquitous, I have not seen anyone else installing outdoor pumps like this. Why wait for water seepage if you can take the groundwater battle outside? Maybe it's city sewer restrictions; I know certain CSO (combined sewer overflow) rules mandate on-site water retention during heavy rains (your parking lot becomes a retention pond).
May 27 Update: DRAINS GREAT!
the drain well is invisible by design, but the 'helicopter' maple seeds make great flow indicators in a swirling pattern like a toilet bowl. During this deluge, the backup was the result of water not getting into the well. The 1/3 hp pump can definitely handle more flow because it was stopping frequently with not enough water in the well to continue running.
It would have been fun to make this a