What is a Water Table and Why Should Homeowners Care?

3/29/2022 (Permalink)

Do you know what a water table is or, more importantly, why it matters when it comes to your home? A water table, or groundwater table, represents the surface underground that is permanently saturated with water, which can fluctuate between seasons and over time, depending on climate shifts. In other words, it’s the boundary between the wet and dry zones underground. 

Why does this matter to homeowners? 

The water table can potentially compromise the foundation of your home, depending on other factors like soil conditions and effective drainage around your home. 

Too much water absorbed into the soil from a high water table can result in the ground around your home becoming too saturated, resulting in swelling. This puts undue pressure on your foundation, which can lead to water leaking through the bottom, even if it’s made of concrete. 

Perhaps more likely than a foundation issue, the presence of too much groundwater can cause humidity-related problems, like the growth of mold and bacteria. 

Fortunately, water damage restoration and water damage remediation is our area of expertise. If you’re concerned about water damage related to your water table or any other cause, reach out to your local SERVPRO of Haverhill / Newburyport team.