A Shawnee homeowner in the Monticello neighborhood was dealing with a sump pump that discharged directly against the foundation, creating a frustrating cycle where the same water kept re-entering the basement. The backyard also had poor grading and Johnson County's heavy clay soil held water for days after every rain.
The sump pump was running almost continuously during wet seasons — not because of groundwater, but because it was pumping the same water out only to have it flow right back in. The system was working against itself.
We trenched through the dense Kansas clay to install underground drain lines that route sump discharge and downspout water over 40 feet from the foundation to a proper drainage swale. We also constructed a rock-lined drainage channel to handle surface water from the neighboring property's runoff.
The drainage system uses filter fabric and graded stone to prevent clogging in the clay-heavy soil. The sump pump now runs far less frequently because it's no longer fighting its own discharge water — a simple fix with a dramatic impact.