garden wall footing keeps filling with water Drainage pipes, concrete, footings and foundations. Post your questions and find answers here

[ookie68]

hi,

i have recently dug out a trench for foundations for a garden wall i'm building using breeze blocks, however the trench keeps filling up with water because the garden behind is on higher ground level, what is the best way to deal with this problem so that i can fill the trench with concrete and start building the actual wall.

many thanks

[thedoctor]

Dig a hole at the lowest end of the trench (called a sump hole) and hire a pump from your local tool hire company. Turn on the pump before you start concreting and start at the end furthest from the pump after the trench is nearly dry. The concrete will push the last bit of water down to the sump and the further along you go the more will be pumped out. Obviously just befor the concrete reaches the pump, pull it out!