Water under house

[Dupont]

Hello, hoping someone can advise please.

I moved into a 1930's end terraced house a year ago. The roof water from 4 houses drains to our end at front and vice versa on back. There is an alley between us and then another block of 4 houses starts.

While having some routine work done the electrian advised we had some standing water under our lounge and against end wall which stairs run up. It is a couple inches deep but did go down to hardly anything in Summer months. This wasn't picked up on survey.

I have had Severn Trent out and they took some samples and came back to say it is rainwater as no fluoride present. We have no leaks on heating system either. The drive at front is block paved and level with no slope towards house. All of the air bricks are intact and unblocked.

The only thing I have noticed is the rain water from our block of 4 houses drains straight out into the alley. The neighbours have a channel against their end wall drawing down into sewer. Mine just drains out onto the concrete at side of my house. Could this be the culprit! If so, how is it getting under foundations? I have attached a picture to help.

I would appreciate any advice as I don't know whether I need a builder or drainage specialist.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Wheres the gully?

Andy

 

[Luckyphil]

A House I recently refurbed had standing water 25-60mm ish any time of the year , I enquired with Neighbours up & dawn the Street & they all have it , apparently it’s the water course level , the Park which is about 500m’s away is generally higher than the Housing in the area, Houses were built around 1930 and have floor voids approx 5ft deep

When we put a 3m deep extension on the back of the House ,the Builders went Down 4ft for the Footings , when they returned the next day to pour Concrete they had to bail out about 18” of Water which had settled there overnight , and no Rain had fallen overnight

imo the main thing to make sure is there is plenty of Ventilation under there and any service / Pipework / Cabling is firmly clipped to Floor joists

regards

Phil

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Some houses do have problems with water under the floor, best have a chat with neighbours to see if they also have water. Some people dig a sump and have to install an automatic sump pump, to pump the water out.

 

[Dupont]

Wheres the gully?

Andy

The make shift gulley is on my neighbours side. It is only about an inch deep. She has some water under her house too. None of the other neighbours are affected.

I have no gulley at all.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The make shift gulley is on my neighbours side. It is only about an inch deep. She has some water under her house too. None of the other neighbours are affected.

I have no gulley at all.

What do those two fall pipes (square white and round black one) provide drainage for?

 

[Dupont]

What do those two fall pipes (square white and round black one) provide drainage for?

The white one provides rainwater drainage for my porch roof and the black one drains the four house roofs in my block.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Should be some arrangement for the drainage of that amount of rainwater, I cannot believe it's been left to find it's own way to disperse for this length of time. I would be asking Severn Trent to tell you where the sewers run before you do anything else.

 

[Dupont]

Should be some arrangement for the drainage of that amount of rainwater, I cannot believe it's been left to find it's own way to disperse for this length of time. I would be asking Severn Trent to tell you where the sewers run before you do anything else.

Many Thanks. Do you think it is possible that amount of rainwater is finding its way under my house? How is it getting under foundation walls?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

If the ground is saturated, (which is likely given the amount of rain in recent days, coupled with lack of any proper drainage), it will result in a high water table.

The fact the water comes and goes according to the time of year indicates its naturally occurring rather than a leak, but you really need to sort out some proper drainage for the rainwater, 4 properties roof area discharging isn't going to be any small amount, and will not be doing the house any favours.

 

[Dupont]

If the ground is saturated, (which is likely given the amount of rain in recent days, coupled with lack of any proper drainage), it will result in a high water table.

The fact the water comes and goes according to the time of year indicates its naturally occurring rather than a leak, but you really need to sort out some proper drainage for the rainwater, 4 properties roof area discharging isn't going to be any small amount, and will not be doing the house any favours.

I think I will pump out the water that is there and get a quote for a drainage system connecting it to the sewer network.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

As it would be shared drainage, (taking the water from you and 3 neighbouring properties), under normal circumstances the below ground drainage should be the Water Co's responsibility. I would seek advice on the legal side of things before going any further.

 

[Dupont]

As it would be shared drainage, (taking the water from you and 3 neighbouring properties), under normal circumstances the below ground drainage should be the Water Co's responsibility. I would seek advice on the legal side of things before going any further.

I am pretty sure the underground drainage is Severn Trent's responsibility but I thought I was responsible for the gulley or drainage system connecting to it.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The white one provides rainwater drainage for my porch roof and the black one drains the four house roofs in my block.

Well, that is probably the source of some, probably all of your water. Bet the level goes up when it rains. Best get together with your neighbour and have a chat about proper drainage.

 

[Dupont]

Well, that is probably the source of some, probably all of your water. Bet the level goes up when it rains. Best get together with your neighbour and have a chat about proper drainage.

It definitely does go up with rain and goes down significantly in Summer. My house is built on blue clay which doesn't drain well either.

I have a pump so will pump it out and get some drainage quotes. I guess a plastic gulley drain would work?