Old canal ground is rarely simple soil. When canals were abandoned, their channels and basins were often drained and filled, and the edges were built on over time. Fill can drain unevenly, settle, and hold water in pockets, so two houses on the same street may behave very differently in a storm. Basements near the basin can show dampness along one wall, a slab that cracked as fill beneath it settled, or water that appears at the floor joint after long rains. A contractor should look for those clues before choosing between a full or partial drain system.
Drainage in this part of town is still being worked on. The borough has a designed and permitted project to remove sediment from the Union Street canal drainage basin and channel, and the county plan lists other local storm problems, including a 54 inch pipe at Ogden and Drake Avenues that lacks capacity and backs up. When storm lines back up, water stands longer at the curb and in low yards, and it finds its way to foundations. Homes near those spots benefit from good grading, sealed window wells, and a sump with a backup.
An 1868 map already shows dense building along these streets, so many nearby houses are old, with foundations of stone, brick, or early block. Repointing and interior drainage tend to suit them better than excavation, since lots here are tight and streets are close. Ask where any sump line will discharge, since the borough's flood and stormwater rules apply to work that changes drainage. Finished basements need a clear scope for what comes out and goes back, and older homes deserve a check of the slab for cracks or settling before a trench is cut.
Worth knowing in Old Morris Canal basin
The Morris Canal came directly through the heart of Rockaway, and its basin, used to unload coal and ship iron, is now a park and playfield between Church Street and Maple Avenue.
rockawayborough.orgThe borough has designed and permitted a project to remove sediment from the Union Street canal drainage basin and channel.
morriscountynj.govAt Ogden and Drake Avenues an open channel feeds a 54 inch elliptical pipe that lacks capacity and causes backflow.
morriscountynj.gov
Questions from Old Morris Canal basin homeowners
Could the old canal under my neighborhood cause basement problems?
It can play a part. Filled canal ground can settle and drain unevenly, which shows up as slab cracks or wet spots along one wall. A contractor can open a test area to see what lies under the floor.
Water stands in the street near my house after storms. Does that matter for the basement?
Yes. When storm pipes back up, water lingers near foundations and soaks into the soil. Grading, window well covers, and a sump with a backup reduce the risk.