Water Table Question - Basement
Water Table Question - Basement
(OP)
I got back my soils report for residential lot that I am looking to build a house on. During borings, the neighbor told me that there is a high water table in this area and for me to be carful if I am considering building a basement. Did 2 borings and the Recorded Water Levels, W.D./A.D. came back as dry/dry for the first boring and 11.5/9.0 for the second boring. Talking with the PE who stamped the report he said "Dont worry about building a full basement, should not be a problem". Just looking to get other people opinions. Much appreciated.





RE: Water Table Question - Basement
What's your neighbor's profession?
How long has he been there?
Could the neighbor have an agenda? - sometimes happens...
What time of the year were the borings taken?
What kind of soils are you dealing with?
Could thge neighbor be taking flooding due to an impermeable soil as a high water table causing flooding?
I would do a little more research here if I were you.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
your neighbor apparently has experienced water in the basement, I would take care to properly design and construct the basement to avoid similar problems.
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
Neighor is a commerical property assessor.
Been there 20+ years.
May have an agenda. Dont know him well.
Borings were taken in December 2012.
Soils are clay.
Not sure what the neihbor is considering. He doesnt have a basement. Said 15 years ago he built an extension. Trenched some footings one day and the next day he had to pump water out of the trench. He said water table was that high.
Thanks cvg.
Would it make sense to do an english basement and go down only 5ft instead of 10ft?
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
As for the 5 foot basement, check with your local codes. 7 feet is usually the minimum head
height in the US, but it varies. You could still go with only a 4 foot burial and a full height basement if your local codes would allow the higher ridgeline to the roof.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
Clay poses a bit of a construction problem because the excavation limits could be wider than anticipated or planned. The backfill will hold water since is will have a high voids percentage and clay will keep the water in and around the foundation walls/footings. Any excessive excavation beyond what is needed for construction could also collect water and require special treatment for roof runoff (excessively long downspout extensions). Any utility excavation could also be a pipeline to conduct water back into the excavated around the completed foundation.
You are basing a lot of design information on two borings and there could be a possibility of a local perched water table that can be a real source of problems if it is intercepted.
Just a couple of thoughts based on years of fighting with water penetration -
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
I have no doubt you can engineer a basement that'll work.
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
RE: Water Table Question - Basement
What was experienced when the utilities were dug in the area? Ask some questions of more than real estate persons.