First, diagnose
So close to the St. Joseph River, sizing a sump pump means planning for a genuinely high water table, not an occasional nuisance.
The full scope
- Capacity sized for a genuinely high water table
- Backup power for river-driven storm events
- Discharge routing clear of the foundation
- An alarm system for early failure warning
- Pit and check-valve condition
Worth noting locally
Given the St. Joseph River's flood history, a South Bend pump plan should assume the power could go out exactly when it's needed most.