Groundwater flooding could impact Utahns living near mountains

SALT LAKE CITY — Some neighbors near the mountains in Ogden are already dealing with groundwater flooding.

The Department of Emergency Management said these residents may deal with groundwater flooding as much as creeks and rivers overflowing with all the snow now starting to melt. 

“It has to have a place to run,” said department spokesperson, Wade Mathews. He tells KSL NewsRadio that people who live near mountains might be more prone to see this type of flooding early in the spring runoff season.

“[Groundwater] is essentially the water that eventually gets into our aquifers that we drink, so that’s a good thing,” he said. “But in the meantime, it might start seeping into basements.”

Ogden resident Abbie Armstrong lives on the east bench near Weber State. She’s dealing with this firsthand.

“It’s coming up through the floors of basements,” she said. “Sump pumps have been running non-stop and have not been able to keep up with the water.”

Armstrong says four or five of her neighbors on the same street have all been flooded, to varying degrees.

“This is the first year they’re experiencing it,” she said.

Emergency Management recommends sealing foundation cracks, getting sump pumps, sandbags and moving furniture to higher floors as good steps to prepare.

They also recommend every Utahn check to see if they are in a flood zone.

Related: Ballpark residents hear from county officials on potential flooding

Follow @lindsayonair