ᐅ Light Wells – Backed-Up Drainage Water – What to Do?

Created on: 18 Sep 2018 23:26
H
HausMatt
H
HausMatt
18 Sep 2018 23:26
Dear forum members,

I have my first uncertainty in the planning stage and came across this great forum, hoping for ideas and suggestions.

Background:
A soil survey was conducted, revealing the following soil conditions:

0 – 0.2 m (0 – 8 inches): topsoil
0.2 – 0.6 m (8 – 24 inches): silty soil, highly sandy, slightly gravelly, dark brown, slightly moist, stiff to semi-solid
0.6 – 1.3 m (24 – 51 inches): fine sand, highly silty, slightly gravelly, light brown, moist, soft to stiff
1.3 – 2.5 m (51 – 98 inches): sandy soil, gravelly, clayey, light brown, slightly moist, medium to densely compacted, ST (sand, clayey)
2.5 – 4.0 m (98 – 157 inches): clay, silty, slightly sandy, gray, moist, soft
4.0 – 4.8 m (157 – 189 inches): fine sand, silty, slightly gravelly, gray brown, slightly moist to moist, medium to densely compacted

The load case corresponds to “temporary rising seepage water.”

A basement is planned, with the underside of the foundation slab at about 3 m (10 feet) depth.

Connecting the basement window wells to the sewer system is not permitted. The infiltration system (soakaway) for roof drainage is located above 1.5 m (5 feet) below the ground surface and is therefore too high to drain the window wells.
The architect is insisting on waterproof concrete (WU) window wells. These are covered at the top with an inclined glass panel. The “gable sides of the glass roof” remain open.
What is your opinion on this solution?
From my perspective, there is a concern that, in case of water ingress due to snow or a garden hose burst, there may be problems with water inside the WU window well.

Thank you in advance for your input.
tomtom7919 Sep 2018 18:24
Your planner is incompetent; in cases like this, cesspits are available. The additional costs for waterproof light wells should be roughly comparable to the expenses for constructing a cesspit.

I know people in the neighborhood who still connected their drainage to the sewer system anyway, and so far, nothing has happened.
H
HausMatt
20 Sep 2018 10:12
Thank you, I took this opportunity to follow up with the water utility and confront them with the soil survey report. Under these circumstances, it is now possible to drain the light wells through the sewer system.
H
HausMatt
3 Oct 2018 17:14
So, standard light wells can be used, which are allowed to drain into the sewer system.