Lycoming County Basement Water Guide (2026)

Updated October 23, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Flood stage	20 ft at the West Branch Williamsport gauge; moderate 21 ft, major 30 ft	NWS MARFC
Record crest	34.75 ft, June 23, 1972 (Agnes remnants)	NWS MARFC
Levee	Two systems, about 11 miles combined, helping protect about 12,000 residents	WVIA (2024)
Rain	About 43.5 inches of precipitation a year (1991 to 2020 normal)	NOAA normals via Wikipedia
Contractor registration	Required with the PA Attorney General if $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year	PA Office of Attorney General
Written contract	Required for home improvement jobs over $500, with a three-day right to cancel	PA Office of Attorney General
Before digging	Call 811 at least three business days ahead	PA PUC
City permits	City of Williamsport Bureau of Codes	City of Williamsport

How high has the West Branch flooded at Williamsport?

The National Weather Service's Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center tracks the West Branch Susquehanna at Williamsport, a gauge with a drainage area of 5,682 square miles. Flood stage is 20 feet, moderate flooding begins at 21 feet, and major flooding at 30 feet. The top recorded crests are 34.75 feet on June 23, 1972, 33.57 feet on March 18, 1936, and 32.4 feet on June 1, 1889. More recent floods include 27.79 feet on September 18, 2004, from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan, and 21.08 feet on September 11, 2018, from the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon.

June 1972 was also the wettest month on record in Williamsport, with 16.80 inches of rain, most of it from Agnes.

What does the levee system do?

According to WVIA, the Greater Williamsport levee system was built in the 1950s and upgraded after Agnes. It is made up of two levee systems with a combined length of 11 miles that help protect 12,000 residents and thousands of homes and businesses, including in South Williamsport, Loyalsock and Old Lycoming Township. The Army Corps of Engineers credits it with reducing the risk of at least a billion dollars in damage. A rehabilitation project, with $8 million in federal community project funding plus city, county and state money, includes pipe rehabilitation, electrical upgrades at the pump stations and raising levees and flood walls along Lycoming Creek. The levee also has to be recertified to meet National Flood Insurance Program requirements.

A levee keeps river water out of a neighborhood. It does nothing about groundwater under a basement slab or runoff from your own roof and yard, which is what most basement waterproofing deals with.

Who can do waterproofing work in Pennsylvania?

The main state rule for waterproofing companies is the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) requires anyone who performs or offers home improvement work to register with the Office of Attorney General, unless they do less than $5,000 of such work in a year. Registered contractors must:

Carry at least $50,000 in personal injury liability insurance and $50,000 in property damage coverage
Display their registration number, in the form "PA" followed by digits, on advertisements, contracts, estimates and proposals
Use a signed written contract for jobs over $500 that includes the work description, estimated start and completion dates, total price and notice of your three-day right to cancel

On projects over $5,000, the Attorney General's guidance says a down payment of about one-third of the price, or one-third plus the cost of special-order materials, is generally appropriate. You can verify a registration through the Attorney General's online contractor search.

Do I need a permit?

It depends on your municipality and the scope. In the city, the Bureau of Codes issues building, electrical and plumbing permits and says most are issued within 15 business days of a complete application. South Williamsport, Montoursville and Loyalsock Township are separate municipalities, so ask their own offices. Lycoming County runs zoning for a partnership of 19 mostly rural municipalities, but not for the city or these neighboring boroughs and townships. Excavation, new plumbing, electrical circuits and structural repair are the parts of a waterproofing job most likely to need a permit.

Before any outdoor excavation, Pennsylvania law requires homeowners and contractors to call 811 at least three business days ahead so utility lines can be marked.

What does flood insurance cover in a basement?

FEMA says National Flood Insurance Program building coverage in a basement includes items such as sump pumps, furnaces, water heaters, electrical panels, foundation elements and unfinished drywall, as long as equipment is connected and installed where it functions. Contents coverage includes washers, dryers and freezers. Basement improvements and items not needed to keep the home safe and functional, such as finished flooring, paneling and furniture, are generally not covered. FEMA's page doesn't address seepage or a sump failure outside a flood, so ask your agent how your policy treats them.

What should I do before calling a waterproofing company?

Take photos of where water shows up, and note how soon after rain it appears
Check that gutters are clear and downspouts discharge away from the house
Test the sump pump with a bucket of water
Find out if your property is in a mapped flood zone
Gather any past invoices or warranties for basement work

Common questions

Does Pennsylvania license basement waterproofing contractors?

The key state requirement is registration: home improvement contractors doing $5,000 or more of work a year must register with the Attorney General under HICPA and carry required insurance.

Is my house protected by the levee?

The Greater Williamsport levee system helps protect parts of Williamsport, South Williamsport, Loyalsock and Old Lycoming Township. Ask your municipality or insurance agent about your specific flood zone.

Will flood insurance pay for a new sump pump?

NFIP building coverage includes sump pumps damaged in a covered flood. Routine replacement or a pump that fails without a flood is a different question for your insurer.

Lycoming County basement water guide