Light shaft drainage pressure-proof window or pump?

Hello,

we have the following situation in our house:
Our BT neglected at the time to provide natural drainage for the light wells.
As an alternative, we were offered either to install pressure-tight windows or a revision shaft including a pump in our front garden.
Due to a high groundwater level, water is currently pushing through the openings of the light well into it.

Is there a system that does not allow water to enter from below upwards but still allows rainwater entering the light well from above to drain away?
Would you rather have a pressure-tight window or a pump installed?

Best regards

Classic planning mistake. What are basement windows doing with an air shaft in the GW?

Drainage under the air shaft is the only sensible solution. It needs to be retrofitted.

How is the basement designed against pressing water?

We had the same problem with the old house. After various attempts, the following proved effective. Light well covered with glass pane, light well closed at the bottom, a vertical 40cm drainage pipe buried outside the basement down to the basement floor, concrete dabbed in at the bottom, lid on top in the garden, submersible pump installed, drainage into the cistern. Some years nothing happens, in wet years the pump runs 1-2 times per hour for 10 minutes.

either watertight windows

Then depending on the amount of pressing water, you'll have more or less full aquariums, which don't drain that quickly. And a tilted watertight window also lets water in.

Inspection shaft incl. pump

More likely, but depending on the circumstances, it's a complex undertaking. You have to dig around the house and put an inspection shaft somewhere in the garden. Costs from our neighbor’s experience: quickly five figures.

Is there a system that does not let water in from below but still allows the rainwater entering the light well from above to drain?

That probably hardly exists. Either watertight light wells without any drainage and with a glass plate on the grate, or normal light wells with drainage and without a glass roof.

Would you rather have a watertight window or have a pump installed?

First of all, it must be clarified whether you currently have perched water that cannot seep away or groundwater. The former is temporary, the latter permanent. According to our soil report, we have the former and the following solution: All light wells are not watertight and all drains are connected with a 0.5% slope. Under the last light well, a core bore was done and the drainage pipe was laid into the house. Inside the house, the water runs into a small lifting system (Homa Sanibroy). Outside, the terrain is shaped so that all garden areas around the house have a slight slope away from the house.
With this solution, you save yourself an inspection shaft and expensive equipment that needs frequent maintenance. But: you are only allowed to use this solution if the areas to be drained are <5m².

If you permanently have to fight against groundwater, then definitely watertight light wells (and normal basement windows).