Homes Near the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers
Short answer: homes on low ground near the rivers sit closer to the water table, so drain tile and a reliable sump pump do more of the work. Drainage around the house is still the first fix.
Request a foundation inspectionHigh groundwater
After wet springs, groundwater rises and presses up under basement floors near the rivers.
Floor cracks
Water coming up through cracks in the basement floor often means groundwater pressure, not a gutter.
Drain tile
Perimeter drains collect that water before it reaches the floor and route it to the sump.
Backups
Battery backups matter most in homes where the pump runs often.
Floodplain rules
Some riverside lots fall in mapped flood zones with their own permit and insurance rules. Check with the city or county before digging.
Grading
Even near a river, sloping soil away from the house keeps rainwater out of the equation.
Insurance
Standard homeowners policies often treat flood and seepage differently. Read yours.
After high water
Have the foundation looked at after a flood or long period of high water.
Next
More foundation repair guides
Request a foundation inspection
Bowing basement walls, new cracks, water on the floor after a storm. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll pass it straight to a foundation contractor, who will call you to set up an inspection and quote.
- Basement walls, cracks and slabs
- Des Moines, Grimes, Norwalk, Indianola and nearby
- Inspection and quote before any work
Bowing wall, cracks or a wet basement?
Send a request and a foundation contractor will get in touch. Requests answered 7 days a week.
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