Can anyone help me figure out my lot drainage problem?

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Hi. Can anyone help me figure out my drainage problem?
My township seems to have a lot of water (i.e. creeks
tributaries, etc.). I live in a large neighborhood.
My immediate subdivision (5 houses) is newer and 20 years
ago was a corn field. According to the subdivision map
there is only one house higher than mine (the one next to me).
Of the 5 houses, 3 of them have (what I am told are water
monitoring stations) these large PVC pipes drilled into the
ground. They have metal caps on them which you can remove
and see water way down (10-15 feet maybe). All of the newer
houses have public water/sewer. My sump pump system
seems to continuously have water in it. I guess it makes sense
since the water in the monitors(?) might be level with my
basement floor. This isn't a problem (I guess) inside as long
as it works. However, my lot seems to fill with water
(big puddles). My neighbors, though I am sure is wet, does not seem
to puddle. His lot, though lower, is not wavy (rippled) like mine.
I guess these ripples are collecting water. I have noticed that the
water in my lot seems to stay for a long time and then
slowly drains into the ground. Though these areas are seldom 'dry'.
I'm thinking maybe I have a lot of clay that takes the water very slowly.
What can I do to find out what is actually happening here? I don't want
to just start trying ($$$) things. Is it practical to even think that I
could fix this buy digging below the clay level and channeling water?
Is there anything I can do with the soil itself? If it is clay, how can
I figure out the depth of it in my area? I'm told the Federal government
has soil surveys available per area. Will this help? What are these
things in the ground? Water monitoring stations? Who would have
put these in and why?

Lots of questions, I need help. What is the point of having an acre if
it is a swamp?

L