Where is the water coming from?
This is the first question any good contractor will ask, and it is worth thinking through before they arrive. Water in a basement usually comes from one of four places: a crack in the wall or floor, the joint where the wall meets the floor, a window well that is collecting rain, or a plumbing or sewer issue.
Each source looks a little different.
A wall crack that leaks after heavy rain points to groundwater or surface water pushing through. A floor that seeps during wet stretches often means hydrostatic pressure from a high water table. A window well filling with water is usually a grading or drain problem. Water that comes up through a floor drain, especially during heavy rain, may be a sewer backup rather than a foundation issue at all.
Quick checks you can do before you call
A few things around the outside of your house can make a real difference in how much water reaches your foundation.
Check your gutters and downspouts. If they are clogged or if the downspouts are dumping water right next to the house, that water has nowhere to go but down along the foundation wall. Downspout extensions that carry water at least four to six feet away from the house are a simple fix.
Check the grading. The ground around your foundation should slope away from the house, not toward it. Settled soil or mulch beds that have built up against the siding over the years can reverse that slope and direct rain straight toward the wall.
These are not substitutes for a professional look, but they are worth doing first.
Why leaks are common in Omaha
Omaha sits on loess, a fine wind-blown silt, with clay-rich subsoils that move with moisture. The city engineer has noted that loess can be easily carried away by water, leaving behind gaps underground. When water finds a path through or around a foundation, that fine soil does not resist it the way denser material might.
Omaha also averages about 31.86 inches of precipitation a year, with May being the wettest month. In March 2019, frozen ground meant that rain and snowmelt ran off instead of soaking in, and the resulting flooding hit Bellevue and Offutt especially hard. Basements in low-lying areas, or in neighborhoods with older drainage systems, felt that kind of event acutely.
Older parts of the city, including Downtown, Midtown, and North and South Omaha, are on a combined sewer system. Some older homes have roof downspouts connected directly to the sanitary sewer line. During heavy rain, that system can back up, sending water into basements through floor drains. That is a city infrastructure issue, not a foundation crack.
When to call the city vs. a contractor
If water is coming up through a floor drain during a storm, call the city first. Omaha's number for street flooding and sewer backups is 402-444-5332. The city has also offered a backflow valve cost-share program; ask them about the current terms.
If water is coming through a wall crack, window well, or the floor-wall joint, that is a conversation for a foundation or waterproofing contractor.
How to choose a contractor
Nebraska requires contractors to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. You can search by name, city, or ZIP at dol.nebraska.gov. The state notes that registration does not ensure quality of work, so also check the BBB of the Midwest Plains, which is based in Omaha.
When you talk to a contractor, ask them to explain exactly where they believe the water is entering and why. Ask what they are proposing and what it will and will not address. Get the scope of work and the price in writing before anything starts.
Frequently asked questions
Is the leak going to get worse if I wait?
A small crack that is currently letting in a little moisture can widen over time, especially through Omaha's freeze-thaw cycles. Water also erodes the fine loess soil around foundations gradually. Getting a professional opinion sooner rather than later gives you more options.
Could the water be coming from a plumbing leak rather than the foundation?
Yes, and it is worth ruling out. A slow pipe leak inside the wall or under the slab can look a lot like groundwater intrusion. A contractor will look for clues like whether the water appears during rain or independent of weather.
What if my neighbor is also having problems?
If multiple homes on a block are seeing water issues at the same time, it may point to a shared drainage problem, a failing area sewer line, or soil movement in the neighborhood. Mentioning it to the contractor gives them useful context.
Talk to a local contractor
Free, no-obligation quotes across the Omaha metro.