High Water Table in ED?

[ozzydawg]

We've recently discovered about 3cm of cleanish (not sewage!) water under our floorboards. It runs under the whole of our ground floor flat. We had it pumped out but in returned within 20 mins to the same level. Have had several people in to look at it but no one can find a leak or where it's coming from. There 's quite a drop from our floor boards to the sub floor below of about 1.5 metres. Someone mentioned that it could be the water table in ED. Has anyone heard of the water table being high here or had a similar problem/ experience? We are on Oglander rd.

[jollyrogers]

There was a little river called the Og that ran down Oglander Road before it was built on.

[KidKruger]

I think someone a year or two ago posted a photo from a roof / high window down that way which showed the route behind some terraces of the (ex) river.

[alice]

do you live anywhere near tell grove

[benmorg]

ozzydawg Wrote:

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> We've recently discovered about 3cm of cleanish

> (not sewage!) water under our floorboards. It

> runs under the whole of our ground floor flat. We

> had it pumped out but in returned within 20 mins

> to the same level. Have had several people in to

> look at it but no one can find a leak or where

> it's coming from. There 's quite a drop from our

> floor boards to the sub floor below of about 1.5

> metres. Someone mentioned that it could be the

> water table in ED. Has anyone heard of the water

> table being high here or had a similar problem/

> experience? We are on Oglander rd.

This definitely happens in Nunhead, but not sure about ED. It's almost certainly nothing to worry about as groundwater is harmless provided there isn't a significant current. But you should get Thames Water to check it out. If it's a burst water main or a damaged public drain/sewer, it's their job to fix it. If you tell them it smells, they will react very quickly... If their investigations suggest it's a private problem and not the water board, you should get a drains company to CCTV your drains. If all investigations find nothing, it's just groundwater. In that case, you might need to spend a few hundred installing a sump pump to lower the level and reduce humidity etc. on timbers.

Incidentally, it's better to have wet clay under your home than dry as it's less susceptible to subsidence caused by shrinkage.

[edhistory]

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/file.php?5,file=29223

The Lordship Lane and East Dulwich Grove streams had their confluence at Grove Vale and then flowed north through the Oglander Gap.

The red lines are the 50 foot contour.

John K

[Ginster]

We're in Ondine Rd so behind you and gardeners doing our fence commented the water level was high in the garden. We often have damp patches in our cellar in the concrete floor.

[ozzydawg]

Thanks for your replies, really helpful. I will definitely contact Thames Water, it does seem like it's a strong possibility it's ground water.

[ozzydawg]

alice Wrote:

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> do you live anywhere near tell grove

Yes not far.. why do you ask?

[ozzydawg]

Ginster Wrote:

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> We're in Ondine Rd so behind you and gardeners

> doing our fence commented the water level was high

> in the garden. We often have damp patches in our

> cellar in the concrete floor.

Hmmm maybe it is something to do with the river og then... suppose lots of people might have the same thing but wouldn't necessarily know about it.

[jonny vantastic]

We lived in a basement flat parallel to you on east dulwich road and had a few floods. We put it down to high water table and even with tanking put in we'd get the occasional flood, usually after heavy rain.

That and the fact that there is an ancient river bed right underneath this location- sadly not much I think you can do.

The tanking definitely helped but it's not 100% resistant.

[UncleBen]

Think it would be a mains leak so TW should be contacted.

[edhistory]

ozzydawg Wrote:

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>

> Hmmm maybe it is something to do with the river og

> then... suppose lots of people might have the same

> thing but wouldn't necessarily know about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Villiers,_1st_Duke_of_Buckingham

See the "Court Life" paragraph.

John K

[edhistory]

If you want to know what is likely to be under your home (or nearby) look here:

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/data/boreholescans/home.html

John K

[dresswaves]

I knew someone who lived on Ondine Road, backing onto Oglander over 30 years ago and they often had flooded basements. It was a well known problem that affected the north side of Ondine but not the south.

[Rianoo]

You can check in the garden by digging a trench to the level of your property's foundations - away from the drains. Even though clay is permeable it does have a certain impermeabilty to it so if it fills quick it is the ground water and not drains or mains. Also check to see if your boiler pressure has dropped recently - just in case.

[KidKruger]

Rianoo, for the OP that's a DEEP hole (1.5m) !

You're offering to dig it for them, right ?!

;)

[Penguin68]

There are active springs in ED (for instance in the valley between Underhill and Wood Vale) - the work in Camberwell Old Cemetery was (partly) to deal with standing water at the corner of Langton and Wood Vale and the recent inclement weather (since last May!) - together with a general reduction in London manufacture - especialy brewing - which has raised general water table levels throughout the city - all makes me think that your problems are more likely water table than pipe-breach caused.

By the way, recent changes in legislation make Thames Water (for us) responsible for all drainage systems into the main sewers (as well as water supply) whether the breach is on public or private land. They are only not responsible now for stand-alone drainage systems (e.g. soak-aways) which do not lead into their own sewerage and waste water systems.

[edhistory]

More probably a winterbourne without a springhead.

John K

[Rianoo]

@KK - No digging for me, not the way I'm feeling today !! On another note when I looked at my foundations they were a single brick - quite scary really - I wish they were 1.5m.

[KidKruger]

I've a 3-storey house and the foundations are shallower than what I dug for my conservatory !!

House must stand there out of habit !

[ozzydawg]

We did actually have someone dig down at the front of the property as we first thought it was a leak from an old capped off service pipe. He dug down quite far although I'm not sure it was quite as far as our sub floor. He didn't come across any water while digging. It does seem there's a lot of underground water around in ED though so I'm thinking there's still a strong possibility that it is ground water and we`ll have to look into installing a sump pump.

Interesting what Penguine68 says about changes in legislation. We have contacted Thames Water who are apparently "looking in to it" Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

[Penguin68]

Water companies took over responsibility last year, that's why numbers of people have had letters from Thames Water saying they may be undertaking a pipe survey and may need access to your land (for inspection points).

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/8654.htm

[KidKruger]

Ozzydawg, open a 'spa' in your basement, could be a right earner !!

"Come bathe in the Og waters in cool and trendy ED"

[ozzydawg]

It has crossed my mind.... The healing powers of the Og!