About to get rid of my sump pump. Is this a good idea?

Theoda

I have a lake behind my house. I have large drainage ditch (big enough to drive a car through) next to my house that drains into the lake. There is a steep slope going from the side of my house down to the drainage ditch.

Currently, my sump pump takes water from under my house, pumps it up over the land, and back down into the ditch. This seems like a strange thing to do when I could just have a pipe attach to my sump pit under the foundation, then run underground directly to the ditch. No more pump required. Gravity does not fail like pumps do.

The pipe would be at least 16" under ground, so freezing should not be an issue. A cleanout would be installed to give me access incase I ever needed it.

I am not worried about the lake or ditch backing up. It has never happened before, even in the hurricane we just had. I am not in a flood zone.

I would also fill in the sump pit with gravel, then concrete over the top. I can then turn the room into something useful.

This seems like a great idea, but I am not a drainage expert. What do you guys think?

oh'mike

Do it----Drain to daylight is every ones dream-----I've only been able to pull that off twice---very few peple have that option--or the energy to dig that much----

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joecaption

No way to tell from here.
If the foundations slab is below grade, how do you figure the waters going to run up hill out of the pit to where it's connected to run to the ditch?
Without a picture it's hard to know.

AllanJ

What is the drop (in inches or feet) between the basement floor level and the surface of the lake?

And the lake has never risen that number of inches or feet?

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creeper

If your property has the pitch then you will be very happy you did it. The peace of mind alone is worth the expense. Be mindful though over time of growth or leaves and other debris blocking the exit of water at the daylight end. It is surprising how little it takes to stop the flow of water

creeper

Joe: The idea is the water drains to daylight below the depth of the foundation. The house is on a hill or built up area

A picture will tell you nothing. He needs a scope if its not an obvious fall