I now have a swimming pool in my yard

As winter of 2011 came to a close, the sump pump finally kicked on.  As the snow melted and the spring rains came, it was good to know that the system that was installed was working.



The kids love their new pool

 Originally, we talked about what we could do with the water from the sump.  Maybe make a rain garden.  Save it and use it to keep the grass green.

But reality soon sunk in -- there was so much water in the yard that I now had a huge pond of water wherever I diverted the sump lines.  The kids loved it, but I didn't.  The water just sat there, eventually sinking into the ground and heading right back to the sump pump where it would get discharged into the yard again.

At this point I decided to get the water as far away from the house as possible.

The plan called for connecting the discharge lines directly into the city's storm sewer.  About 7 months prior, the plumbing company left a hook-up to the sewer about 50 feet from the house.  I would just need to route all the pipes into the 4" drainpipe.  Sounds easy enough, but that meant a) changing the interior pipes, b) removing a concrete sidewalk where the pipe would go, c) burying 4" sewer pipe about 40 feet, d) replacing the concrete sidewalk.  I started work in early April and finally finished in mid July.

Step one: the sump line moved from the east side of the house to the south part of the house.  I learned that you can't drill through a glass window to discharge your line.

A picture of the old sidewalk and deck when we moved in.  The sump pipe came out right where the blue garbage can is.  The sidewalk was destined to be removed, since it was all heaved and nasty from being poured on clay, not sand.

Step 2: Excavating the concrete

Clay galore.  Not fun to dig out.

Laying the 4" sewer pipe.

The sod went right back on top of the pipe -- hardly noticeable that any construction was done.

Laying the fine gravel and sand for the new paver walkway.  I managed to connect the downspouts into the same sewer line.

Another look at the walkway before the pavers went in.

Installing the pavers.

I put two centennial hop plants and some left over annuals in the new space next to the garage.

A look at the finished walkway.

Pavers close up.  Renting a nice wet saw was the best decision of the project.

That's it!  Now that the water will be safely diverted away from the house, it's just a matter of sitting back and seeing if all the basement stays dry.