Water in basement - who can find the source?

sol2017

Apologies for the long post!

I'm getting a major leak in the basement which really worries me. Started last weekend and only happens when it rains. Last weekend when the weather was really bad I had a waterfall in my basement.

Been in the house for over 4 years, not had any issues. Neighbour's basement also getting some water (not as much as me but also considerable amount) - they've lived there for 30ish years and they say they've not had any issues before.

I live in an old terraced house that's built into hillside, with ground floor on the street level and lower ground floor with access to garden.

Water is entering house through a hole in the floor in the middle of the house... I've tried to draw a diagram, hopefully it makes sense...



Water board have investigated and said it's not them. Still waiting for the council to clear a blocked road gully which could be potential cause. But who knows how long that's going to take.

At this rate getting worried about the damage it might cause long term. Stressed and getting prepared for the worst case.

But what can I do now and who to bring in to investigate and advise on further action?

Thanks for reading this far and for any suggestions!

Doozergirl

It's okay for cellars to flood during rain.   It's normal.  It doesn't matter where it's coming from.   They are designed to be damp.  

You may need to invest in a sump pump as it doesn't always go down easily by itself but damage isn't a threat as long as you don't leave it sitting for too long, which could make upstairs a bit humid.  Make sure you have good through-ventilation in there and can see clear daylight through airbricks. 

sol2017

Thanks Doozergirl. Normally I would worry but this seems like a lot of water. Here's additional pic:



I don't think I can post videos to demonstrate the water feature in action.

Water is coming in from the bottom corner of steps and also the hole in the step above. (I do wonder why that hole is there...) In one week it's done a lot of damage between the wall and the step so I am thinking what damage it might be doing under those steps and the house before it gets to the exit. Does it still look like nothing to worry? (I think I'm a worrier haha)

Doozergirl

It is nothing to worry about but there was little point in plastering and painting a wall in a damp basement if the intention was not to completely tank it as part of a professional basement conversion. 

So yes, the paint and plaster is going to be damaged, but it shouldn't really be there as it was never going to withstand nature. 

daveyjp

If it has been tested and isn't potable it could be from anywhere.  Drains, groundwater, underground watercourse.

A friend rented a garage, which was actually built as a Victorian mill boilerhouse.  He had been there over thirty years with no issues, it was alongside a beck which used to rise 2-3m in minutes in heavy rain, but he was well above that and flooding was never a threat.

One morning after very heavy rain for about a week he arrived to find water running out of the garage under the roller shutter.  The only explanation was groundwater finding a new route.

sol2017

Thank you both. I'll try not to worry about it!

The room was decorated when I bought the house. It's been pretty dry so far. Previous owners even had a carpet there!  I have been considering waterproofing it properly but wasn't planning to do it for another few years. I might have to bring it forward now.

RachO

I live in an old house that cellar.  When it rained heavily water would seep upward.  When I dig up the cellar floor there was actually a clean water run off pipe running under the floor/ property, it was cracked hence the water.  It was replaced with a soak away and not a problem since.  Obviously doesn’t mean the same for you but discovering the drain was entirely unexpected.

The challenge is the surrounding area is clay and water creates a pathway of least resistance.  Potentially the same issue for you

dutchcloggie

Here is a completely left-field suggestion. 

Yes ago, out of the blue, my cellar started flooding. Midterrace Victorian house. It wasn't related to rain, nor to using the shower, toilet etc. Watercompany came out, checked drains with a camera, nothing. It drove me insane a there was no rhyme or reason to it. 
The flooding came from exactly the same place as yours: the side of the stairs. 

Then one day, I looked over the neighbour's fence and saw their garden was flooded. I went to have a look at their house and the issue was this: they had a shower room next to the kitchen. The water from the shower drained into the gully outside the kitchen, which in turn drained into the same "hol" as a drainpipe. However, the drain was not only blocked but also cracked. So everytime the neighbours were having a shower, standing water would seep past the broken drain, into the ground and find its way into my cellar. 

This was proven when the water man put some dye in the standing water and a short while later, that same dye appeared in my cellar. 

Cut a long story short: water man unblocked the neighbour's drains and the neighbour repaired the broken gully. Problem solved. 

sol2017

Thanks for giving me some hope!

It's been a dry week now but some water is still coming from underneath the stairs. Small amount but it's not stopped. How long does it take for groundwater level to drop? 🤔

I might be wrong but it actually seemed to be a bit worse than a couple days ago. I'll keep an eye on it and see if I can spot anything specific contributing to increase in water.