Notching a slab to drain basement water

[bigbuZZ]

My basement cove joint has always been dry but with all the recent rain, water is now actively coming up there. I have a sump pit in the next room that runs constantly because the water table is so high. Now the water coming from the cove joint is starting to flood that small area near the utility room and I'm using a surface pump just to keep up. I figure the water will keep coming until the ground dries out. So I am thinking about cutting a small notch in the concrete floor, leading from the cove joint straight to the sump pit. I think would let the excess water flow directly to the pit, where my main sump pump can handle it. But are there any big drawbacks to cutting a concrete slab like that, or anything I need to know before doing it or should I just cut the notch?

 

[Alan]

Is this a recurring issue? The long-term fix is either improving exterior drainage like the gutters or installing a proper interior drain tile system to handle the high water table.

Now for your current problem, cutting a very small, short notch that you can patch later is likely your best option to prevent flooding. But... do so knowing the risks of breaching the slab and the potential for radon or soil gas entry. Up to you.

 

[speed fighter]

have you figured out where the leak is coming from?

You might want to install a small interior drain tile system instead. It iss a trench filled with gravel and a pipe that carries water to the sump. but it"s covered so there's no open gap.

 

[bigbuZZ]

That's a good question. I am still trying to figure it out. If I cannot figure it out, do you think an interior drain tile system will still work?