Forum Topic

Water in cellar....Water Table?

Can anyone advise who to contact with enquiries about the water table?  I had water in my cellar over about a month from the middle of December.  It never raised over about an inch and went up and down. I bucketed out the water 4 times and since Monday morning it is now completely dry. Just prior to this my neighbour who has a 'flow away' installed in her garden had a report back from a drainage company on 17th December saying...JET & ATTEMPT TO CLEAR REAR SURFACE GULLES TO STOP FURTHER FLOODS.  TRACE SURFACE GULLY OUTFALL INTO COMMUNUAL MAIN, UNABLE TO PUSH TRACER MORE THAN 0.6M UP BOUNDARY WALL.  JETTED BUT SUSPECT HOSE JUST GOING TO GROUND. After this report I was advised by the drainage company that they went back to dig and excavate my neighbours drainage but access was not allowed to carry out the works. I have also been informed by a building surveyor who attended my property on Monday as this could be connected as to why water is coming into my cellar with the water backing up into my property.  The water is either surface or rain water as Thames Water attended my property and anaylsed the water and it is not mains water as there is no chlorine or ammonia present.Any advise would be appreciated.Fran  

Fran Naughton ● 5903d8 Comments

JET & ATTEMPT TO CLEAR REAR SURFACE GULLES TO STOP FURTHER FLOODS.  TRACE SURFACE GULLY OUTFALL INTO COMMUNUAL MAIN, UNABLE TO PUSH TRACER MORE THAN 0.6M UP BOUNDARY WALL.  JETTED BUT SUSPECT HOSE JUST GOING TO GROUND. They can't spell -beware!

Ian Silver ● 5902d

I cannot comment about them being cowboys, but I can comment that the report is from one of the major drain companies.  Fran

Fran Naughton ● 5902d

The report is poorly written with numerous spellng mistakes. I suspect they are cowboys.

Ian Silver ● 5902d

Hi Fran.Yes you would have to ask your Neighbour, but I am sure if you explain the problem they would understand. If not, hand it over to your insurers and they will do the investigation work.

Robert Ayres ● 5902d

Thanks for your help Jim... I will give them a call tomorrow. It's just so frustrating that I have this.. I have lived in my house since 1996 and have never ever had water in my cellar... and to pardon the pun 'I need to  get to the bottom of this'..... Fran

Fran Naughton ● 5903d

Hi Robert,You are correct... I did mean my neighbour has a soak-away other than me saying a 'flow away'. How will I go about draining dye into my neighbours gullies?  Do I have to seek permission and a plan of the gullies?Thank you so much....Fran

Fran Naughton ● 5903d

Protection of groundwater comes under the Environment Agency and whilst they will not be able to solve your problem they might be able to give advice. Brentford comes under the EA Waltham Cross office: Tel 08708 506506.  JL

Jim Linwood ● 5903d

Hi FranI suspect you mean your neighbour has a soak-away system to take surface water. First thing to try is drain dye pour it into your neighbours gullies and see if the water that turns up in your basement has the dye present. If sothe only sure way out it is that these gullies are connected to the main drainage system. It means digging them up and re-routing the pipe-work if this is possible.

Robert Ayres ● 5903d