Water, Water Everywhere

It was a rough, water-logged-basement-Winter. Ice water was permeating the basement floor in several spots near a window. I spent many days during periods of freeze-thaw, throwing towels on the carpet, removing them, and putting them, soaked with ice water, into the dryer. Only to repeat the scenario time after time. Endlessly.

When Spring came and it was warm enough, it was time to act. The foundation had to be waterproofed, a massive job, but another Winter like this could not be tolerated, whatever the cost.

The work was done outside, nothing inside was disturbed, despite my expecting the worst. The jack-hammering was performed quickly and the concrete removed. Several wonderful young workers hand-dug a trench the length of most of the house. (No bodies found). All the old clay soil was removed and carted off. After an intricate waterproofing job, fresh, more drain-able soil filled the trench and the concrete was beautifully restored.

No sooner was the washing machine pump fixed (sometimes it is worth not throwing something out if there is a better, cheaper solution) there was another water issue:
the sump pumps were going off in an effort to get rid of water that was filling the French drains. Had I not gone down to the infamous basement to throw some laundry into the washer, I never would have known that the sewer was backing up into the slop-sink.

Thankfully, my plumber was able to make it first thing in the morning. The problem is always the huge old tree in front of the house: its roots make their way into the  pipe connection to the street and block it, causing everything that went into the drain to come back for a revisit. Not fun. This is an annual maintenance that must be done, because if it is not, it will have to be.

Then there are times when water is our friend. When the green gook strikes a wooden deck or siding, there is no escape from the power washer. There is nothing like that power-boost of water to blast away the grit and grime that has made itself known all over the place. If only it weren’t so damn noisy.

And beyond my microcosm of H₂O, may all those who have been enduring the yin/yang of nature, droughts and flooding,
be safe, and may we all find balance.