My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

On Nov 9, 8:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.
19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

DId the storm sewer overflow, is it lower than the back yard, a little
more information clearly stated would allow a much better answer.

Your municipality may have rules on what you can do to change
drainage. Where we live, you cannot increase the total amount of
runoff from your property, nor can you increase the rate of the
runoff, even if the total amount of water is unchanged. This is to
protact those downstream, down from where the sewer lines resurface
from flooding.

On 2011-11-10, hr(bob) wrote:
On Nov 9, 8:10?pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.
19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

DId the storm sewer overflow, is it lower than the back yard, a little
more information clearly stated would allow a much better answer.

Your municipality may have rules on what you can do to change
drainage. Where we live, you cannot increase the total amount of
runoff from your property, nor can you increase the rate of the
runoff, even if the total amount of water is unchanged. This is to
protact those downstream, down from where the sewer lines resurface
from flooding.

This is a commercial building on a slab.

The storm sewer did not seem to overflow, but the water was kind of
high in it.

I will check with my municipality, they seem to be super nice to me so
far.

i

Ignoramus19683 wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

Municipalities have differing and very
counter-intuitive regulations regarding French
drains, particularly in the way that the water
finds it's way into the storm drain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_drain

Neighbors on both sides of me have drains that
are configured so that water must magically
levitate against gravity in order to flow.
Neither of those systems appear to work, strangely.

Our drain is arranged so that the lowest
point in the system is the 'connection' to the
storm drain system and the highest point is
furthest from the storm drain.
It works really well, with no pumping
required.

--Winston

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Start with plumbers. First, sit down, away from sharp objects.

--Winston -- Trade for a ditch witch and go for it, Iggy!

Ignoramus19683 wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Well the easier way would be to spray the bottom edge of the building
with something like Drylok waterproofing.
Buy it in a nice color and two tone the building with a 2' strip all the
way around.

--
Steve W.

On Nov 10, 12:44*am, "Steve W." wrote:
Ignoramus19683 wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Well the easier way would be to spray the bottom edge of the building
with something like Drylok waterproofing.
Buy it in a nice color and two tone the building with a 2' strip all the
way around.

--
Steve W.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


If he has water pooling up around the building because of
grading, trying to keep it out of the building by waterproofing
is almost always a failing proposition. A 2' strip all the way
around isn't likely to work, as the water will just wind up finding
a way in from under the slab through cracks, etc..

The correct way is to analyze the grading and to get it to
slope AWAY from the building. That is the first choice.
In some cases it may not be possible to do around the
whole perimeter due to obstacles that are in the way.
In that case, a gravity drain system of some kind or a
system that leads to a sump pump basin outside the
building is an alternative.

As others have pointed out, the municipality may have
restrictions on whether it's legal to discharge water into
the storm sewer. Another choice might just be to route
it near the storm sewer, discharging it on the ground on
the property, if that's possible.

" fired this volley in
:

The correct way is to analyze the grading and to get it to
slope AWAY from the building.

Ig... our factory was built 4' below road level in an area correctly
termed "Florida Flatwoods"; land on which the mean water table is less
than 12" below the surface.

Every time it rained more than a couple of inches, the whole ten acres
became a mud bog, and that's been going on for 40 years.

So, I talked my principals into hiring a hydrologist to come shoot the
levels, review the maps and county drains, and tell us if there was
anything that could be done with the run-off.

All they needed to fix the problems was a mini-GradeAll, $4000, and a
week. Now we have property that hasn't even _puddled_ since! It was the
best spent 'expert work' we ever had done.

LLoyd

On 2011-11-10, Lloyd E. Sponenburgh lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
" fired this volley in
:

The correct way is to analyze the grading and to get it to
slope AWAY from the building.

Ig... our factory was built 4' below road level in an area correctly
termed "Florida Flatwoods"; land on which the mean water table is less
than 12" below the surface.

Every time it rained more than a couple of inches, the whole ten acres
became a mud bog, and that's been going on for 40 years.

So, I talked my principals into hiring a hydrologist to come shoot the
levels, review the maps and county drains, and tell us if there was
anything that could be done with the run-off.

All they needed to fix the problems was a mini-GradeAll, $4000, and a
week. Now we have property that hasn't even _puddled_ since! It was the
best spent 'expert work' we ever had done.

LLoyd

This is awesome! So, you would say I should search phone book for
"hydrologist"? Or "drain engineer" or something? I would like the same
thing as you -- proper drainage -- except that my case is
easier. There is a ready storm drain and even some kind of a pond
across the road from me.

i

Ignoramus30836 fired this volley in
:

Or "drain engineer" or something? I would like the same
thing as you -- proper drainage -- except that my case is
easier. There is a ready storm drain and even some kind of a pond
across the road from me.


Start with excavation companies, and make it clear you're looking for a
property drainage expert. Many of them will have the proper laser levels
and swale-digging experience to do the job.

You probably don't even need "ditches", per se. A gentle swale - perhaps
even mild enough for your forklift to traverse - may be all it will take.

LLoyd

"Ignoramus19683" wrote in message
...

My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

I had a similar problem here, behind our back warehouse.
I hired a local excavator to come in and strip all the gravel off the
yard and pile it up, re-grade the yard including the ditch-line behind our
property and the next two neighbors; so there was a consistent slope all the
way to the next culvert (the neighbors were happy, since I paid for it).
Then they replaced all the gravel, graded that out, and re-compacted it with
a big power roller.
The grading covered about 1/2 acre and cost $1800 altogether.

On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.
19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

By "storm sewer" do you mean open detention pond ?

How were you able to determine if the "storm sewer" was higher
and thus had more water in it than normal ?

~~ Evan

On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.
19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan

On Nov 10, 11:21*am, Evan wrote:
On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.





19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

On Nov 10, 11:35*am, bob haller wrote:
On Nov 10, 11:21*am, Evan wrote:



On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.

19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

Umm... Bob, water infiltrates a building at the joint between the
foundation and the slab... Especially in commercial buildings...

Immediately the only reasonable thing the building owner/occupant
can do to prevent further water getting into the building is to put
down a barrier and cover it with sandbags...

Any other sort of site modifications generally have to be approved
by the authority having jurisdiction and could take anywhere from
weeks to months to be designed and approved...

~~ Evan

On Nov 10, 7:59*am, Ignoramus30836 ignoramus30...@NOSPAM.
30836.invalid wrote:
On 2011-11-10, Lloyd E. Sponenburgh lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:



" fired this volley in
:

The correct way is to analyze the grading and to get it to
slope AWAY from the building.

Ig... our factory was built 4' below road level in an area correctly
termed "Florida Flatwoods"; land on which the mean water table is less
than 12" below the surface.

Every time it rained more than a couple of inches, the whole ten acres
became a mud bog, and that's been going on for 40 years.

So, I talked my principals into hiring a hydrologist to come shoot the
levels, review the maps and county drains, and tell us if there was
anything that could be done with the run-off.

All they needed to fix the problems was a mini-GradeAll, $4000, and a
week. Now we have property that hasn't even _puddled_ since! *It was the
best spent 'expert work' we ever had done.

LLoyd

This is awesome! So, you would say I should search phone book for
"hydrologist"? Or "drain engineer" or something? I would like the same
thing as you -- proper drainage -- except that my case is
easier. There is a ready storm drain and even some kind of a pond
across the road from me.

i

That "some kind of pond" across the road from you might not be
yours -- it could be for the property across the road...

Without more information that is a useless bit of conjecture...

Does your property have its own detention pond ON your
property ? Such ponds are NOT connected to any drainage
or sewers and handle parking lot run off from drains and
the rainwater leaders (drains) from large roofs...

~~ Evan

On Nov 10, 2:33*pm, Evan wrote:
On Nov 10, 11:35*am, bob haller wrote:





On Nov 10, 11:21*am, Evan wrote:

On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.

19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

Umm... *Bob, water infiltrates a building at the joint between the
foundation and the slab... *Especially in commercial buildings...

Immediately the only reasonable thing the building owner/occupant
can do to prevent further water getting into the building is to put
down a barrier and cover it with sandbags...

Nonsense. The only thing is sandbags? Could be LOTS of
things, from possibly re-routing water that is exiting from
the roof, to installing a simple drain that takes water away
from a low spot. If they own the building they have lots of
choices. If they don't, I'm not betting on the owner being
happy with the tennant putting down sandbags outside in
a lame attempt to keep water out.





Any other sort of site modifications generally have to be approved
by the authority having jurisdiction and could take anywhere from
weeks to months to be designed and approved...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

On Nov 11, 7:18*am, "
wrote:
On Nov 10, 2:33*pm, Evan wrote:





On Nov 10, 11:35*am, bob haller wrote:

On Nov 10, 11:21*am, Evan wrote:

On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.

19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

Umm... *Bob, water infiltrates a building at the joint between the
foundation and the slab... *Especially in commercial buildings...

Immediately the only reasonable thing the building owner/occupant
can do to prevent further water getting into the building is to put
down a barrier and cover it with sandbags...

Nonsense. *The only thing is sandbags? * Could be LOTS of
things, from possibly re-routing water that is exiting from
the roof, to installing a simple drain that takes water away
from a low spot. *If they own the building they have lots of
choices. *If they don't, I'm not betting on the owner being
happy with the tennant putting down sandbags outside in
a lame attempt to keep water out.





Any other sort of site modifications generally have to be approved
by the authority having jurisdiction and could take anywhere from
weeks to months to be designed and approved...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

water can and does come up thru basement or slab. at any joint, around
utility entrances thru flor etc etc.

water takes the easiest path

bob haller wrote:

(...)

water can and does come up thru basement or slab. at any joint, around
utility entrances thru flor etc etc.

water takes the easiest path

Yup. That's why you provide a peripheral drain that
creates an 'easiest path' away from your building for
that below-grade water flow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_drain

BTDT .. and now I'm nice and dry, even after the
worst downpours.

--Winston

On Nov 11, 7:18*am, "
wrote:
On Nov 10, 2:33*pm, Evan wrote:



On Nov 10, 11:35*am, bob haller wrote:

On Nov 10, 11:21*am, Evan wrote:

On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.

19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

Umm... *Bob, water infiltrates a building at the joint between the
foundation and the slab... *Especially in commercial buildings...

Immediately the only reasonable thing the building owner/occupant
can do to prevent further water getting into the building is to put
down a barrier and cover it with sandbags...

Nonsense. *The only thing is sandbags? * Could be LOTS of
things, from possibly re-routing water that is exiting from
the roof, to installing a simple drain that takes water away
from a low spot. *If they own the building they have lots of
choices. *If they don't, I'm not betting on the owner being
happy with the tennant putting down sandbags outside in
a lame attempt to keep water out.



Any other sort of site modifications generally have to be approved
by the authority having jurisdiction and could take anywhere from
weeks to months to be designed and approved...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Umm, no, they don't...

Rerouting water flow and storm run off on a property is an
environmental
concern in which the local authority having jurisdiction and the state
department of environmental protection have input into...

You can't just start digging and installing drains -- you must assess
the amount of water you are dealing with and create a properly sized
water detention area on your site to deal with the volume of water
which is causing the problem... The design/hearing/approvals process
on an issue like that takes MONTHS minimum...

The only IMMEDIATE measure the building owner can take is to
put out sandbags...

The authority having jurisdiction must determine where any excess
water above and beyond the design capacity of the approved on-site
detention facilities is to be discharged, lest the property owner
decide
that on their own and cause someone else flooding problems based
on an un-permitted and un-approved water control solution...

You can't just dig up around the perimeter of the building, install
drainage tiles and filter fabric/stone and pipe it to daylight
downhill
somewhere... It is a lot more complicated than that...

~~ Evan

On 11/11/2011 4:14 PM, Evan wrote:
On Nov 11, 7:18 am,
wrote:
On Nov 10, 2:33 pm, wrote:



On Nov 10, 11:35 am, bob wrote:

On Nov 10, 11:21 am, wrote:

On Nov 9, 9:10 pm, Ignoramus19683ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.

19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

Umm... Bob, water infiltrates a building at the joint between the
foundation and the slab... Especially in commercial buildings...

Immediately the only reasonable thing the building owner/occupant
can do to prevent further water getting into the building is to put
down a barrier and cover it with sandbags...

Nonsense. The only thing is sandbags? Could be LOTS of
things, from possibly re-routing water that is exiting from
the roof, to installing a simple drain that takes water away
from a low spot. If they own the building they have lots of
choices. If they don't, I'm not betting on the owner being
happy with the tennant putting down sandbags outside in
a lame attempt to keep water out.



Any other sort of site modifications generally have to be approved
by the authority having jurisdiction and could take anywhere from
weeks to months to be designed and approved...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Umm, no, they don't...

Rerouting water flow and storm run off on a property is an
environmental
concern in which the local authority having jurisdiction and the state
department of environmental protection have input into...

You can't just start digging and installing drains -- you must assess
the amount of water you are dealing with and create a properly sized
water detention area on your site to deal with the volume of water
which is causing the problem... The design/hearing/approvals process
on an issue like that takes MONTHS minimum...

The only IMMEDIATE measure the building owner can take is to
put out sandbags...

The authority having jurisdiction must determine where any excess
water above and beyond the design capacity of the approved on-site
detention facilities is to be discharged, lest the property owner
decide
that on their own and cause someone else flooding problems based
on an un-permitted and un-approved water control solution...

You can't just dig up around the perimeter of the building, install
drainage tiles and filter fabric/stone and pipe it to daylight
downhill
somewhere... It is a lot more complicated than that...

~~ Evan
Absolutely right, Evan. All the more complicated by the Federal EPA
rules. They have forced ALL cities over a certain size to do this, even
here in the desert where the average precipitation for a year is about 8".

Paul

On 2011-11-12, Paul Drahn wrote:
Absolutely right, Evan. All the more complicated by the Federal EPA
rules. They have forced ALL cities over a certain size to do this, even
here in the desert where the average precipitation for a year is about 8".

I do not think that anyone would care, or notice, if I hire a
landscaper with a Bobcat and clean up my property a little bit,
without paying high priced environmental consultancies.

And yes, I did talk to the village office.

i

"Evan" wrote in message
...
snip---
Does your property have its own detention pond ON your
property ? Such ponds are NOT connected to any drainage
or sewers and handle parking lot run off from drains and
the rainwater leaders (drains) from large roofs...

~~ Evan

I had two such ponds dug on our property when I began construction (shop and
house).

They have proven to be one of the best decisions I made. They handle all
the runoff with ease, and there's more than enough of it here in Western
Washington. I heartily endorse the idea.

Harold

On Nov 11, 7:14*pm, Evan wrote:
On Nov 11, 7:18*am, "
wrote:





On Nov 10, 2:33*pm, Evan wrote:

On Nov 10, 11:35*am, bob haller wrote:

On Nov 10, 11:21*am, Evan wrote:

On Nov 9, 9:10*pm, Ignoramus19683 ignoramus19...@NOSPAM.

19683.invalid wrote:
My building's area has seen particularly heavy rains last 2 days, and
some water ingressed the building drom the side (not through the
roof).

The reason is that water level outside was too high.

There is a storm sewer in the back yard of the building.

Am I correct in thinking that the proper way to address this is to
hire someone to dig a drainage ditch along the property, draining into
that storm sewer, or into sumps inside the building (to be pumped into
the same storm sewer).

If so, what kind of companies should I look up in Yellow pages, what
is that kind of business called?

Thanks

i

Sandbags would help you immediately stop water infiltration...

A longer term solution might require design/review and
approval by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

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the water table is likely so high the water will enter from below, you
cant seal it out it must be rediected

Umm... *Bob, water infiltrates a building at the joint between the
foundation and the slab... *Especially in commercial buildings...

Immediately the only reasonable thing the building owner/occupant
can do to prevent further water getting into the building is to put
down a barrier and cover it with sandbags...

Nonsense. *The only thing is sandbags? * Could be LOTS of
things, from possibly re-routing water that is exiting from
the roof, to installing a simple drain that takes water away
from a low spot. *If they own the building they have lots of
choices. *If they don't, I'm not betting on the owner being
happy with the tennant putting down sandbags outside in
a lame attempt to keep water out.

Any other sort of site modifications generally have to be approved
by the authority having jurisdiction and could take anywhere from
weeks to months to be designed and approved...

~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

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Umm, no, they don't...

Rerouting water flow and storm run off on a property is an
environmental
concern in which the local authority having jurisdiction and the state
department of environmental protection have input into...

You can't just start digging and installing drains -- you must assess
the amount of water you are dealing with and create a properly sized
water detention area on your site to deal with the volume of water
which is causing the problem... *The design/hearing/approvals process
on an issue like that takes MONTHS minimum...

The only IMMEDIATE measure the building owner can take is to
put out sandbags...

The authority having jurisdiction must determine where any excess
water above and beyond the design capacity of the approved on-site
detention facilities is to be discharged, lest the property owner
decide
that on their own and cause someone else flooding problems based
on an un-permitted and un-approved water control solution...

You can't just dig up around the perimeter of the building, install
drainage tiles and filter fabric/stone and pipe it to daylight
downhill
somewhere... *It is a lot more complicated than that...

You claiming to know the rules and practices
in all parts of the country? Again, you're assuming worse case,
and throwing out FUD, which seems to be your main contribution here.

The solution could be as simple as the grading being incorrect along
15 ft
on one side of the building. It might just need to be raised 6 inches
near
the building and re-graded to flow away onto the lawn. Or install a
10 ft
drain line that takes water from a
gutter downspout and brings it out to a lower spot on the lawn.
You telling us that either of those requires an EPA permit and months
to do?
Those are done all the time here in NJ, one
of the most regulated places in the country, by everyone from
building owners themselves, to landscapers, without any permits.

As for your sandbags, that's pretty much BS. The water is still going
to
pool up and likely make it into the building. Plus it should look
really great.







~~ Evan- Hide quoted text -

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