Sump Drainage Problem

3422 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by DUDE!, May 21, 2009

Lieber Tarianz

Discussion Starter · May 21, 2009

I have a sump pump in my basement that drains out into a dry well. Drainage during heavy seasonal rains has become an increasing problem over the last few years. There have been 3 occasions over the past 2 years where the water has backed up out of my pit into the basement but the sump pump itself has not failed. I believe that my dry well becomes over saturated and is preventing the pump from evacuating the water fast enough.

Although I can route the water out into the lawn, I would prefer to continue to use the dry well. It works 99% of the time and my washer drains into the pit. My fear is that draining into the front yard will be unsightly.

Is there any way to install an overflow valve on the pipe outside so it only drains into the yard if the dry well is full? Should I be looking at installing a new dry well? Any ideas or advice would be appreciated.

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Daniel Holzman

· #4 · May 21, 2009

I don't know where you are located, but in MA where I live it is illegal to connect greywater (washing machine) to a drywell, it needs to go to the septic system. There are many reasons for this, not the least is that if you have a potable water well, you may be contaminating it with washing machine water that is flowing from your drywell into the ground, then into your well. Bad news.

It is certainly possible that the drywell has been plugged by washing machine water, which can contain soap, hair, fabric, dirt etc., none of which should be entering a drywell. You can dig another drywell further from your house, then connect the pump to that. Ideally you would like the drywell as far as possible from the foundation, this would minimize the probability of water flowing back into your basement (the short circuiting problem).

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