Large volumes of moving water underneath building
Hey folks,
Case Study: a distressed waterfront property that has an unusual ground water situation. Here's some context.
The property is on a steep grade sloping away from the road. The property itself is relatively close to the road (perhaps 6 ft from shoulder). It is a two story structure with one exterior door on the second floor (on R, facing the concrete retaining wall, about 4 ft below grade), and a second exterior door facing the water (L).
The previous owner has torn up the subfloor in the bathroom downstairs, revealing a constant flow of water running towards the lake. There is a partial slab but also bare earth underneath this room. The water is definitely moving (you can hear it running), and is about 8-10 inches deep.
The implication was that this water was runoff via the water table from the upslope, which continues to the right across the street. There is a corrugated 4" outflow pipe at the lake that has a steady stream of water coming out of it. It seems like a high volume of water, but it is springtime. I wonder aloud if this might be a leaking water main underneath the road (public water, private septic).
Here are my questions:
(1) Is there a way to tell if this water is ground water vs. a leaking water main?
(2) If it is runoff (as the previous owner implied), what kind of professional would I engage to evaluate the situation and come up with a remedy?
Thank you in advance for your collective advice and feedback!