ᐅ Issues with the light well, unfortunately water in the basement

A submersible pump that reacts to a maximum height is a good idea—if the issue is really caused by the overflowing cistern.

i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

There was simply sloppy work done in the drainage planning.

When I think about the heavy rainfall events in recent days, it’s quite possible that even a well-planned system can sometimes be overwhelmed.

How should one imagine this? Does the water rise in the light well and then push in through the window frame?

i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

There was clearly a mistake made during the drainage planning. Fixing this afterwards will obviously require more effort. But do it properly right from the start as described above. Install drainage under the light well, connect it to the cistern (so only indirectly to the sewer system) – done. How do you plan to power and monitor the submersible pump?

We have just installed the driveway, but it hasn’t been grouted yet. Therefore, individual stones could be removed to create a cable duct leading to the light well.
A float switch would activate the pump as soon as the water level rises too high.
Alternatively, just close the window and that’s it... Unfortunately, this has happened twice within two years, and the developer refuses to take responsibility...

Bookstar schrieb:

How should one imagine this? Does the water rise in the light well and then push in through the window frame, right?

Yes, correct. Apparently, there is some kind of water flow underneath that the water follows and finds. In my opinion, it runs along the exterior wall beneath the building insulation :-/

aGgi1337 schrieb:

Thank you for the response.
Would I have to break up the driveway again to do this? It seems the local authority does not allow a drain connection to the wastewater system. I already asked during the house construction, and it was denied.

? Local authority?

aGgi1337 schrieb:

The rainwater from the roof runs into a cistern in front of the house and into the wastewater system.

Ah! The local authority is not responsible for your property – you will need either that or a cistern on the property!
A submersible pump might also work. We had one in the basement of our old house…
Maybe simply installing an additional cistern and connecting both would be a solution?

Bookstar schrieb:

The water rises in the light well and then pushes in over the window frame, right?

Basement windows are not waterproof against rising water in the light well. They are not designed to be watertight against groundwater in the basement light well.
In our previous house, the water in the basement light well only stopped when we installed a cover glass on top and a vertical drainage pipe with a diameter of 40cm (16 inches) along the house down to the foundation slab, as well as a submersible pump leading to a cistern with an overflow into the sewer system. All downspouts drained into the cistern.
The house had a watertight concrete basement (“white tank”), yet in wet years there was standing water up to 0.5m (20 inches) deep below the lawn, since the soil was clay.