Have an 8 year old home that gets a lot of water into sump pit area when it rains and or thaws-in NYS. have tried to catch ground water via a trench and now think maybe there might be a spring somewhere. Any thoughts on how to find out for sure or ideas? Also, don't think we have enough pitch to use gravity-is a sump pump and a backup the best/only solution? Do not have drain tiles along the outside foundtion of the house per the builder but have them underneath the foundation.

More likely a leak than a spring. Do a hose test to find the spot where water is entering your foundation. When you find it, dig there and repair any cracks or openings, apply dampproofing compound and a waterproofing membrane, and backfill with pea gravel.

Leaks can be caused by:
1. Insufficient dampproofing
2. Improper backfill (containing rocks or construction debris)
3. Tree or shrub roots
4. Heavy equipment or vehicles running too close to wall
5. Improper design of foundation (such as insufficient wall thickness for the height of soil outside the wall)

Leaks can also be above-ground in areas such as around basement windows, or brick shelves.

The only way to stop the water is to dig around the house and install exteior footing drains and then properly seal the foundation with ashpalt. These footing drains should either be run to daylight if possible, to city drains if their there. Or into a sump system that can pump the water away from the area. All the interior system is doing is controling the water not stopping it. Your builder was WRONG.
How did he or she get away with that.
Exterior grading, gutters etc is all control methods. Not methods to stop the water.

Wondering if I was confusing in my question--the builder said there is gravel and drain tile under the celler but no footer drains around the exterior of the house so his thought is a spring--would this make sense--the sump pit has 2 pipes draining into it that collect water and drain it into the pit and then pump it out--alot of it----but not in dry weather or when ground is frozen--and may not have the pitch to use gravity--your comments are again appreciated--thanks

add this to others posts,possibilities

some states don`t require exterior tile on shallow basements, don`t know if this is case in NY

if you like, you could 'TRY' having an exp`d-honest plumber snake the pipes/tile that empty into the pit....try.

'if' there is a blockage in the pipe(s) then it is possible for water to accumulate under a basement floor and then, on heavt-longer rains it can rise-up through any opening in the floor

'if' water accumulates in pit, maybe have honest plumber check sump. as you know, not all plumbers,like waterproof`g co`s, are there to help,not too honest. Also, not all plumbers have experience in dealing w/these problems,correct way to snake etc.

And for some HO`s, they can have a blockage in lateral line,some homes don`t have access,some do. When this is part-all of problem and there is a clean-out/storm trap then, snake through it, it may be all thats needed.

and sometimes, it a combination of whats been said above

Fully understood. You need to have the exterior footing drains. Without them spring or no spring any water that comes from the outside of the house will eventually make its way into the house so the internal pump system is taking it away. If it comes in like you said, he did not properly seal the foundation at all.
Like Richard said, do a hose test. Run water on the side of the house where you suspect its appearing into the basement. Let it run a while, It may take several min to show up as runnig water into the basement drain.
How old is the house?
Did you check with the building department regarding the requirement to install outside drains? The builders response may be because he does not want to get sued so he is skirting the real issue. I doubt that a spring is the issue.

yes, as Home Care says he may not have waterproofed all or may have done a half az`d job dunno.

but what does often happen on new/newer homes-basement walls is...when they backfill against damproofed wall(s) the soil settles,compacts and it can pull down the thin asphalt/damproofing that was up higher near top of wall. This exposes the top part of wall, not good.

And other times, if they use heavy equipment near basement wall, it can/could cause a crack(s) and presto...there`s the problem.

Its also possible that while the soil COMPACTS along the basement wall AFTER it was backfilled, it can/could cause a crack. May be right away, may be 3-6 months, may be 1 year or so and then a crack can occur, leak follows.

The house was built in 1999. Do you think exterior drains around the outside may help to catch the water before it gets into the drain under the celler floor and thus into the pit area?? --and if it is a spring would it still help?? We have not had water come through the walls or floor while the pump is working--once it quit and we did--and if the exterior drains are a good idea--an excavating company I assume would be the one to do the work and they would have to dig down to the ??floor?? of the celler?? Their is not a drain in the floor of the celler--I will check on the town code about drains outside the house tomorrow and post the answer.
Any thoughts on the location of the sump pump in the pit--how high it should be to the top of the pit--under the pipe that brings the water in--about how many inches below that--wondering if raising it a little would stop it from running so often and extend it's life without creating another problem??
Continued thanks for your thoughts--

quite often sump pumps are placed to far down into the pit. If your seeing water just laying in the pit at sort of a normal height. That is the water table in your area. Placing the pump or setting the pump so it does not go on at that level will surly help preserve the pump to when its needed. But once again. An outside properly designed and installed gravity drain will keep the water away so it does not make its way into the basement area.
How far down below outside grade is the floor of your basement?
If your not experiancing any water on the floor or walls, You have no warranty issue. But if water is seeping onto the floor or out of the wall you still may have a warranty on the house as it relates to water entry into the home. Check with the home warranty people. NOT the builder. He does not want to do anything. And its in his best intrest to convince you that there is nothing wrong. And that all is normal.
If you find that a warranty does exist. Get the advice of an attorny Do not go to the builder with guns drawn. He will attempt to have you sign a paper which will limit your ability to go after him for any repairs that may be required if he ends up having to fix the issue. Your lawyer can help spell out your rights.