Parents have had a sump pump since I can remember Dad had a French drain installed yrs ago it has helpedDown by me, we all have sump pumps. No matter how good your crawlspace is, water finds a way in. As you can see in the photo, just digging the bucket hole, I was in water. I had to put the rubble in the bucket to hold it down. I bailed some of the water and pour dry mix around the bucket. It really hardened up nicely.