front yard is flooding...plumber or landscaper?

so, we have lived here for 2 yrs.  i think these may be related - but maybe they are 2 separate problems??  

so, we have a sump pump. we dont have any flooding in our basement. our neighbor has a sump pump as well, but looks like it's possibly not working correctly(?) - as we can see water stream from their property down to our's (slight slope). there is also a slight slope from our house down to the curb. - and there is also a bit of flooding down by the curb. the flooding at our curb seems a bit too far away from our neighbor's issue - so we think it maybe separate?  (sorry...if this is not very clear). anyway, is this a plumbing q?  - making sure our pipes are working/draining correctly (or seeing if it is from the neighbor's area)..or more of a landscaper question?  

any and all advice is super helpful. thanks!

Would it be possible to post a photo of the wet area of your yard?

Also, when you say there is flooding at the curb, does that occur after rains or is it present to some degree all the time?

If it is present to some degree all of the time, then does the water line from the street run in this area? Is it possible to put your ear against the water pipe where it enters your house? If yes, then can you hear running water even if no one is using water in the house and the meter is not moving?

Sorry to bombard you with questions.

While I don't have much else to offer, I doubt the landscaper is the solution to your problem. Maybe ask the town building department to look into it.

Why not both? 

Ask a plumber what he thinks.

Ask a landscaper what he thinks. 

Pay whichever one makes a compelling argument. 

Is it always wet ?   If so it could be a water main issue.  If so, consider calling the water company.  

You don't give enough information for us to advise as to what problem if any you might have and how best to solve it, assuming there is a problem.  Pictures would help.  So would answers to a few questions.

Re:  Wet areas in lawn.  Water flows down hill.  Even with a slight grade.  Sump pumps are working properly if they prevent the basement from flooding due to high water table.  There are ways to reduce the amount of water that collects on our lawn.  Thus can be done with plantings, re-grading, permeable materials in the wet area, etc.  A landscape architect can best help advise on what if anything would work, assuming anything is needed/advised.  Most landscapers around here mostly do lawn and shrub maintenance.

Re: water at the curb.  Lots of possible causes. Water flowing along the curb from further up hill, water emptying from your sump hole into the street when sump pump is working, closest sewer grate to your curb blocked with vegetation or other debris, leaking/broken water line, etc.  You can probably detect the cause yourself  with a little inspection.  Except for the broken water line issue which does require a plumber, most of this is normal.  Raking the sewer grate as needed will ease the street flooding problem if this is the cause, rest will resolve itself on its own.

If the water is in the yard, the sump pump is doing its job to get it out of the house and if there is a problem, its probably the drain pipes. Older setups allowed the drain pipes from the pump to exhaust the water to the street (curb area) and sometimes used terra cotta drainage tile which degrades over time. Often the open end near the street can also become covered with soil or grass and debris. When this happens, sometime the pipe backs up and water finds alternative paths. 

This may be why the water is coming from somewhere between the house and curb on neighbors house.

Couple of ways to trace your drain line. You can mix some food coloring into a bucket of water and dump it into your sump catchment area. When the pump discharges, the colored water may be easier to see and trace. If your sump drain line is covered, simply dig around the output and clear it.

Water at the curb isn't uncommon with these old lines, its where the constant trickle of sump pump discharge is coming.

it was our neighbor's drain pipes and it appears that the problem is solved!  thanks everyone!

I personally would listen to this guy. He blows my answer, which I won't bother to post, out of the water.

Heh. I made a joke.

rowerg said:

If the water is in the yard, the sump pump is doing its job to get it out of the house and if there is a problem, its probably the drain pipes. Older setups allowed the drain pipes from the pump to exhaust the water to the street (curb area) and sometimes used terra cotta drainage tile which degrades over time. Often the open end near the street can also become covered with soil or grass and debris. When this happens, sometime the pipe backs up and water finds alternative paths. 

This may be why the water is coming from somewhere between the house and curb on neighbors house.

Couple of ways to trace your drain line. You can mix some food coloring into a bucket of water and dump it into your sump catchment area. When the pump discharges, the colored water may be easier to see and trace. If your sump drain line is covered, simply dig around the output and clear it.

Water at the curb isn't uncommon with these old lines, its where the constant trickle of sump pump discharge is coming.

agree....

By the way, when I had an issue (no sump pumps involved) I bought in a landscaper and solved my problem but it was clear to me the water was coming from the neighbor's property every time it rained.  

drummerboy said:

I personally would listen to this guy. He blows my answer, which I won't bother to post, out of the water.


Heh. I made a joke.

rowerg said:

If the water is in the yard, the sump pump is doing its job to get it out of the house and if there is a problem, its probably the drain pipes. Older setups allowed the drain pipes from the pump to exhaust the water to the street (curb area) and sometimes used terra cotta drainage tile which degrades over time. Often the open end near the street can also become covered with soil or grass and debris. When this happens, sometime the pipe backs up and water finds alternative paths. 

This may be why the water is coming from somewhere between the house and curb on neighbors house.

Couple of ways to trace your drain line. You can mix some food coloring into a bucket of water and dump it into your sump catchment area. When the pump discharges, the colored water may be easier to see and trace. If your sump drain line is covered, simply dig around the output and clear it.

Water at the curb isn't uncommon with these old lines, its where the constant trickle of sump pump discharge is coming.