I have a 6 units 3 stories with daylight basement apartment. Build in 1960. Just bought it few months ago. Last year the previous owner had a bad flood in the daylight basement after long period of rain.
They cleaned out the area, remodel it. Good for few months, last couple of weeks rain long again, basement room one little area about 3 sq.ft. had water soaking. I went ahead installed a sump pump at the outside near by the wall (it is about 15 feet away from that soaking spot inside the basement house), tried to drain out any ground water into the sump, in hope of drain any ground water near that soaking spot. This is the 4th day after sump pump install, continuously have water gets pump out from the sump pump. However, so is the soaking area still wet with some water also.

NOTE:

1. While installing sump pump, in the big hole I hammer in four pieces of 1/2" x 2' long metal pipe (side way into the dirt about 2 feet below grade level in hope of quick drain out ground water) at different positions. Indeed, one of the pipe quickly drained out very clean water, other pipes water drain little slow.

2. Before I purchased the apartment in May, an inspector did a check and learned the water pressure in the line is not as high.

Obviously, basement wall or slab has crack. And I wonder such daylight basement water problem if caused by long period of raining, or by broken water pipe? If it is broken water pipe then why it is not flooding or wet during normal time.

QUESTION:

a. How can I determine for sure what is the problem

b. How can I fix the problem, no more water leaking.

THANKS FOR YOUR SOONEST ADVICE.

VICTOR

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I wonder such daylight basement water problem if caused by long period of raining, or by broken water pipe? If it is broken water pipe then why it is not flooding or wet during normal time.

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Good question. It sounds like ground water but let's check.
To check to see if you have a hidden leak first shut down everything in the house, no flush, no drinks of water, and if you are on a meter go out and check the little pointer in the gage. It should not move or creep. If it does you have a leak. If you're on a pump then check the pressure gage after the pump builds up to pressure and shuts off. The gage should not fall and the pump come back on. If so you have a hidden leak.

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How can I fix the problem, no more water leaking.

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If it's ground water intrusion then a french drain ,(see image) around the house comes to mind. If it's a hidden leak the floor will have to be opened and the leak repaired. Let me know if you're interested in Installing a french drain. Regards. Tom