Ask around in Blaine, Ham Lake or Andover and you'll hear a lot about sump pumps. That's not a coincidence. Much of Anoka County sits on the Anoka Sand Plain, a wide area of sandy soil with lakes, wetlands and groundwater that often sits fairly close to the surface.
What "high water table" means
The water table is the level below which the soil is saturated. In many north metro neighborhoods it rises in spring with snowmelt and rain. When it rises above the level of your basement floor, water presses against the foundation from below and from the sides.
Why sandy soil doesn't save you
Sand drains quickly at the surface, so yards don't stay soggy. But that same quick drainage lets water move easily through the ground toward your foundation, and when the whole area is saturated, it has nowhere else to go.
How homes are built for it
Most newer homes here are built with drain tile around the footing and a sump basin. The tile collects groundwater and the pump sends it out. In a wet spring that system may run every few minutes for weeks.
What that means for you
- Your pump works hard. Expect to replace it sooner than in drier areas, and choose a quality pump.
- A backup is essential. If the power goes out while the water table is high, the basin can fill in hours.
- Older homes may lack tile. Houses from the 1950s and 1960s may have no drain tile or failing clay tile.
- Humidity runs high. Wet soil keeps basements damp, so moisture control helps even without leaks.
If your pump has been running nonstop and you have no backup, that's the first thing to fix.