Basement Waterproofing in Wauwatosa, WI

Wet basement help in Wauwatosa

Wauwatosa's Building & Safety Division says any underground pipe that carries downspout or sump water counts as a plumbing system under the State Plumbing Code and needs a permit.

Downspouts and sump pumps in Wauwatosa may discharge at grade, or through an approved underground pipe to the city storm sewer, a landscape bed, a rain garden or another on-site area the department approves, as long as the water doesn't flow over a public sidewalk.

A Wauwatosa homeowner who lives in the house may install or replace a clear-water sump pump and its discharge piping with a plumbing permit.

The city says finishing a basement into habitable space needs a building permit, and a basement bedroom also needs a second exit, typically an egress window.

Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County.

Wauwatosa is in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) service area. See what that means for sump pumps and drains.

Sources: Wikipedia · City of Wauwatosa, Building & Safety FAQ · City of Wauwatosa, Plumbing Permit

Wauwatosa at a glance: city in Milwaukee County

Water and drainage in Wauwatosa

Whether a Wauwatosa basement stays dry usually comes down to the individual lot: how the yard is graded, where the downspouts and sump discharge, the age and type of the foundation, and how wet the soil gets after heavy rain or snowmelt. Ask whoever inspects to show you where the water is getting in before recommending a fix.

Leaks often show up when rain falls on frozen ground or snow melts fast, because the water can't soak in. In winter, a frozen or blocked discharge line can also leave a working sump pump with nowhere to send water.

Wondering about price? See our basement waterproofing cost guide for published price ranges and what drives them.