A basement that smells musty, shows white mineral crust on the walls or gets a puddle after heavy rain has a water problem that plumbing can solve only in part. In Newark, DE, a plumber handles what happens to water once it reaches the foundation: where it collects, how it is pumped and where it goes. Other causes, such as cracks and structural movement, need a different trade.
This page explains what a plumber can fix, what causes the water in the first place and where the line sits between plumbing and foundation work.
Why Newark basements get wet
According to an older Delaware Geological Survey report, Newark sits on the Fall Line, where the clay-rich weathered soils of the Piedmont meet the sandier Coastal Plain. Clay can hold water against a foundation and drains slowly, while sandier ground lets it move through. Which one surrounds your house varies by lot, so the same street can have a dry basement and a wet one.
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Newark station put yearly rainfall and melt near 47 inches, with 12.7 days that bring an inch or more. Those heavy days are when downspouts, grading and the water table decide whether your basement stays dry. If your basement only weeps after those big storms, drainage is the likely cause.
Plumbing-side fixes
Interior perimeter drain
A channel along the inside of the footing collects water that seeps through the wall or slab and sends it to a sump basin.
Sump basin and pump
A lined pit holds the water until the pump lifts it out. Details on pumps are on the sump pump page.
Discharge line
Pipe carries the water outside, away from the foundation, to an approved route.
Check valve and backup
Keep the water from running back and keep the pit working in a power loss.
Sealed lid
Closes the pit so humid air and soil gas do not enter the basement.
Fix the outside first
Many wet basements start above ground. Gutters clogged with leaves spill at the wall, and short downspouts empty beside the foundation. Soil that slopes toward the house sends rain to the exact spot where the wall meets the footing.
- Clean gutters and extend downspouts several feet away from the house.
- Check that the soil near the wall slopes away rather than toward the foundation.
- Keep window wells clear and covered.
- Look for ponding after rain in the same spot each time.
- Make sure swales and ditches on your lot stay free of debris.
Newark's code makes the owner responsible for keeping drainage swales and ditches on their property free of obstruction. That is a good reason to check them each fall, because a blocked swale sends water toward your own foundation.
Where the water must not go
Newark's code does not let sump pumps, roof drains, French drains or subsoil drains feed the sanitary sewer. A plumber will route the discharge outside or to an allowed storm connection, and will not tie a basement drain into the house sewer. Putting stormwater into that line can overload it and may be a code violation.
Parcels with a number beginning with 18 are permitted by the City of Newark, and everything else, including nearby Bear, goes through New Castle County, so permit questions depend on the address.
Planning basement waterproofing?
Call to book a same-day appointment when one is available. You get a clear price before work starts.
Radon, sealing and the lid
A 2013 Delaware Division of Public Health report says New Castle County has the highest potential for elevated radon in the state. Radon rises through cracks and collects in basements, which is why a sealed sump lid matters when a pit is added or replaced. An open pit is a path for soil gas.
The state advises testing, and free test kits are offered to Delaware residents. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or higher. A fan alone does not reduce the amount, so a lid and a test are better first steps than guessing.
What is not plumbing
Foundation cracks, bowing walls, settling and mortar failure are structural problems. A plumber can manage water but cannot repair a wall, and a drain will not stop a crack from leaking. Ask a structural contractor or engineer to assess any crack wider than a hairline, any wall that leans inward and any step crack in block. Exterior excavation and membrane work are also a separate trade.
If you see water coming from a wall at one spot with no rain, the cause may be a pipe, not groundwater. A leaking supply or drain line looks like seepage, which is where leak detection helps rule it out.
Which approach fits
| Situation | Likely cause | Plumbing answer |
|---|---|---|
| Damp floor edge after big storms | Hydrostatic pressure at the footing | Interior drain and sump pit |
| Water at one wall after rain | Downspout or grading | Fix gutters and slope first |
| Pump runs but pit still fills | Undersized pump or blocked discharge | Replace pump, clear or extend discharge |
| Wet spot with dry weather | Pipe leak | Leak detection |
| Horizontal or stair-step crack | Structural | Foundation contractor |
Insurance and floods
According to the City of Newark, most homeowners policies exclude flood damage, and the Delaware Department of Insurance says the same. Flood insurance through FEMA's program is available to Newark owners and renters and takes 30 days to start. FEMA's basement fact sheet lists items like the sump pump, furnace and water heater as covered, but not finished walls or flooring.
If you live near White Clay Creek, the City's planning office can say whether your lot sits in the mapped floodplain.
What affects the cost of water control
Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood, per the Delaware Department of Insurance, so check yours. Call for a plain price before any digging begins.
Basement water questions
Sometimes. If the water comes from a pipe, a drain or a sump, yes. If it comes through cracks or from poor grading, the first fix is outside the plumbing system.
A plumber manages water with drains, pits and pumps. Sealing cracks, membranes and wall repair are foundation work, so a structural contractor handles those.
It is a good idea. Radon enters through open pits, and a 2013 state report put New Castle County highest for radon potential in Delaware. A lid also keeps humid air out.
It moves liquid water to a pump. Humidity can remain, so a dehumidifier or ventilation may help after the water is controlled.
No. The City keeps groundwater pumps off the house sewer line, so the plumber routes it outside or to an allowed storm connection.
NOAA normals for Newark show about 12.7 days a year with an inch or more of rain, which is when a basement shows its weak points.
Need a plumber instead of an answer?
Call (410) 378-7601