Footings filling up with water

[rebl]

Thats it basically. Do I need to worry? The footings were dug yesterday and over the last 18hors or so they've filled with 4inches of water. Do I need to worry? We can see that our kitchen sink drain is leaking but the amount of water in the footings is more water than I think we could have used overnight. The leaking drain I'm not worried about because its being disconnected.

The footings are between old footings for the outhouse that was knocked down and a large retaining wall that I assume will go down a long way (its not been exposed and moved yet but will be).

How deep are the footings? Which side of the retaining wall are they on - eg the side which has earth up against it or the other?

They're about a metre deep (from the lower path level so at least 2m from the top of the raised area behind the retaining wall) and they're the side of the retaining wall which doesn't have earth up against it (i.e. in the path which went along the bottom, following the edge of the raised area.

Anyone?

Your water table is at the level of the water in the trench.

I assume you are putting concrete in the bottom and then building up from there and putting a damp course in well above the water table and you dont have basement?

Do remember, the water tale will be higher in winter. I saw a local authority surveyor actually checking footings once on a house extension and ofering advice so you could ask the local authority surveryor to come and have a look to make sure it complies with building regs before you start building.

..the water table will be higher in winter.