We have four windows that are below ground level. It is our understanding they served two purposes. One was to provide light to the basement. The other was to allow for coal and/or fuel oil to be put directly in the basement. While we don’t need the latter, the former is still a big deal. The problem is that the window wells fill with water whenever there is heavy rain and the water seeps into the basement.
Danny, Chelsea’s stepfather, recommended the submerged window covers that I ultimately constructed. As can be seen in the photo, each one is a piece of plexiglass attached to two wooden triangles. The design doesn’t restrict the amount of light in any way, but it directs water away from the window. The water can then be absorbed by the soil.