Water~sump pump problems?

Question

Forgive me if this is long but I will try to be as detailed as I can. Please give me some advice I don't know what to do.

In the beginning of April we noticed that our finished basement was flooded, unfortunatley it wouldn't have, but our float on our sump pump had got stuck. Let me also say that we have not had any problem the last 3 years we have lived here. The sump pump has never gone on once. Well we delt with the flooding issue and since have listened to our sump pump discharging alot of water ~easy 3 1/2 gallons every 50 seconds!!! We have it draining to the nearest drain which is off our property down the road. We are the only house in our small subdivision who's sump pump is going on.. Soo frustrating. We have called our utilties to see if their was any type of leak. It took them all of 5 minutes to say their was none. I just find it strange. Also I don't know if it would matter but my neighbors across the street had added on to their home this past winter, installing a pool

Answer 1

I would first try to determine the kind of water.  If it is treated water -- say from your utility company or from your neighbor's pool, it will show signs of chlorine.  Collect a sample and have it analyzed by a local lab.  Tell them that you suspect it is water from a utility or a pool so they know what to look for.  If the water is chlorinated, present the results to your utility and demand a further investigation. (They will determine if it is from the pool or their pipes.)

If the water turns out to be "natural" the problem is probably yours to deal with even though the pool digging may have disturbed a natural aquifer.  The solution will involve digging a trench outside of your home, installing "weeping tile" (a 4" perforated plastic pipe) in a bed of crushed rock and directing the water away from your home before it enters the sump.

Good luck.