A window well is a square or semicircular embankment dug on the side of a house to make room for a window close to the ground. Window wells are used when windows are built level with the foundation, or in basements, where the window needs space away from the soil and enough access to sunlight and air to make the project feasible.
One problem with window wells is that they attract water and debris. Dirt and leaves blow into the wells and cannot escape, so they must be cleaned out. Rain water and snow accumulates inside, which can lead to deterioration and leaking problems. Most window wells come with a few inches of gravel, which is often not considered enough to adequately deal with drainage problems.

A more complete solution is to create a series of trenches or outlets built into the window wells that divert the water away from the house until it reaches a point where it can be safely drained into the soil. Chicagoland can install a window well drainage system.