How We Evaluated a Sump Pump Discharge Drainage Problem at a Property in South Minneapolis, MN

Overview: Site Evaluation

This case study documents how we evaluated recurring sump pump discharge problems on a residential property in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The homeowner was dealing with ongoing water issues caused by an active sump pump with no clear or reliable place to discharge water outside the home. Over time, this led to wet and soggy areas in the lawn, water pooling on the public city sidewalks, and water to constantly running down the curb line of the street and seasonal ice buildup.  It wasn't a great look for the homeowner and they wanted to find a solution.

At KG Landscape, our role was to evaluate the site conditions, identify why common fixes were failing, and determine what type of long-term solution would actually work for this property.

This case study walks through:

• What was happening on the site
• The limitations we identified
• Why this was not a simple or surface-level fix

The final solution and construction process are covered in Part 2 (we've provided a link to the solution / part #2 case study for this project at the bottom of this case study)

Project Snapshot

• Project Location: Minneapolis, MN
• Property Type: Residential
• Primary Issue: Sump pump discharge water pooling and freezing
• Solution Installed: Permanent outdoor drainage system (covered in Part 2)
  

The Problems

When we first evaluated this property, the homeowner was using above-ground extension hoses to move sump pump water away from the house foundation where it was pooling. While this helped temporarily, it created several ongoing problems.

1) Water Puddling on City Sidewalk / Causing Ice in Winter: In addition to the lawn issues, sump pump water was discharging toward public sidewalks and the street. In warmer months this caused major pooling. In winter it was far worse, creating large areas of ice that required constant attention and became a safety concern.

2) Hose in the Lawn: The hoses ran across the lawn and had to be moved every time the yard was mowed. They were frequently damaged by lawn equipment and often froze or clogged during the winter. During spring melt and heavy rain events, water had nowhere reliable to go.

The property itself had several constraints:

• Above-ground hoses used to move sump pump water
• It was a new construction home, meaning the grading between homes was changed / disturbed by the builder
• Flat side yard, where a swale should have been
• Water pooling in yard near the house and running toward city sidewalk
• Ice buildup during winter months
• Tight city lot conditions common in Minneapolis
• No obvious low area to safely send large volumes of water
• Gas and electric lines running on the side of the house
• irrigation system to work around
• downspouts dumping more water into problem area, adding to the sump pump water issue

These factors made the problem repeat year after year.

See Before Pictures Below that Clearly Show The Existing Drainage Problems

Options Considered

As with most drainage evaluations, there were a few options that homeowners commonly ask about and that we reviewed for this site.  Some solutions, such as building a rain garden or adding permeable pavers may have made sense if the landscaping was being redesigned or we were adding new landscaping and Hardscaping features, but since drainage was the priority for this project we considered the options below.

One option was continuing to use above-ground hoses or extending them farther across the lawn. While inexpensive, this approach does not address freezing, clogging, or long-term reliability and was already proving to be a problem on this property.

Another option was minor surface grading alone. While grading is important, there was no safe or effective surface discharge point available. Without a place for the water to go, grading alone would not solve the issue.

A third option was routing water toward sidewalks or the street. This is something we see often, but when it comes to sump pump discharge water that runs constantly throughout the year it creates safety issues, ice buildup, and potential liability concerns, especially in winter.

Each of these options failed to address the root problem: managing sump pump water in a way that works year-round in Minnesota conditions.

Option 1: Above-Ground Extension Hoses

• Common temporary solution
• Already not working, upsetting neighbors
• Easy to install
• Fails due to freezing, clogging, and lack of air gap
• Requires salting and manual ice breaking and removal in winter

Option 2: Minor Surface Grading Only

• Still Dumps Water onto Sidewalk
• Helpful in some situations when the main issue is getting water away from the foundation only
• In this case, the main issue was the constant sump water - not rain event water
• Would not resolve sidewalk pooling or winter icing

Option 3: Underground Pipe from Sump line Discharging at Curb Line

• Still Dumps Water onto Sidewalk
• Often attempted on city lots
• Creates ice hazards and liability
• Not appropriate for this property

Option 4: A Rain garden in the Boudlevard Strip between Street and City Sidewalk

• This strip was too narrow
• can be dangerous for people geting in and out of cars depression(customer used this street parking area)
• they didn't want the added garden maintenace

These options address symptoms, not the root problem: the water from the sump needs a place to go

Why This Evaluation Mattered for This Property

This project is a good example of why sump pump discharge problems cannot be solved with one-size-fits-all fixes.

The combination of flat grading, city lot constraints, winter freeze cycles, and high water volumes meant this property required a tailored drainage approach. Understanding those site-specific factors is what allowed us to design a system that would actually work long-term.

Designing the Best Solution

After evaluating the site and reviewing the homeowner’s goals, it was clear that the only viable long-term solution was a permanent outdoor drainage system designed specifically for this property.

The solution needed to:

• Eliminate above-ground hoses
• Prevent freezing and backups
• Keep water away from sidewalks and public areas
• Function during spring melt and heavy rain events

This required an approach that combined grading and underground drainage designed for Minneapolis conditions.

👉 Next: The Drainage Solution We Built

At this point in the evaluation, it was clear that temporary fixes were never going to solve the problem on this property. The site conditions required a permanent, purpose-built drainage solution designed specifically for Minneapolis weather and soils.

👉 Read Part 2 of this case study to see the drainage system we designed and built to permanently solve these sump pump discharge problems.

Link to Part 2 Solutions Case Study

How the Solution Was Implemented

Once the solution was selected, our team planned the work to minimize disruption to the property while addressing the underlying drainage issues.

The installation required coordination between grading adjustments and underground drainage components, with careful attention paid to elevations, discharge locations, and protecting existing site features.



The construction process and system layout are documented in detail in Part 2 of this case study.

The Result

We Completely Solved the Issue & Our Customer Is Happy!

While the full results are covered in Part 2, the evaluation and planning phase made it clear that this property could not be fixed with temporary measures.

By identifying why hoses, surface fixes, and sidewalk discharge were failing, we were able to design a solution that addressed the problem at its source rather than masking symptoms.

👉See This Customer's Review of Our Work

We had a fantastic experience working with Kent and the team at KG Landscape Management!  They helped us install a dry well, French drain, and regrade our yard to address water retention around our foundation. From start to finish, Kent was professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. The crew worked efficiently, kept the area clean, and made sure every detail was done right. We’ve already noticed a big improvement after recent rains. Highly recommend KG Landscape Management for anyone looking for reliable and skilled drainage or landscaping work!

-Paul K.