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City of Ann Arbor SSWWEP - Citizens Advisory Committee Coordination — City of Ann Arbor

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2.79 -O- Does this standing water in the sump container represent a health hazard?

Posted by Lori Byron on 22 Dec, 2013
Category: Category 2 - about potential recommendations

Frank Burdick’s Log Number: 71
Submitted by: Burdick log
Category (1,2,3): 2
Status: Open
Estimated date to address: TBD, CAC to prioritize

Q. Existing FDDs as designed, allow approximately 3" of standing water to remain in the bottom of the sump container.  This water contains decomposed, organics, fertilizers, and other unknown substances.   The water is only "pumped" out of the container when the water level reaches the flow setting on the pump (approx 7" depending on the pump design).  Does this standing water in the sump container represent a health hazard?  In your response please also consider the following:  1. Fresh air infiltration in homes is being substantially reduced for energy savings purposes. New windows and other energy saving efforts are making homes more "tight" and the residents more susceptible to airborne contaminants in the home.   2. FDD sump pumps with this standing water are installed in basements where the most furnaces with "air intakes" are also installed. In some cases, the new sump pump locations are very near the furnaces. 

A.

Comments

Peter Houk on 1 Feb, 2014:

I do not think this question is relevant to our mission.  Every house built after 1982 has a sump pump.  All sump pump installations (old and new) have to satisfy the plumbing code.  If the code needs to be changed in order to protect people from a health hazard, then that change is clearly outside of the scope of our CAC.   

Jim Osborn on 1 Feb, 2014:

I agree with Peter.

But to answer this low priority question, my sump pump is coverd with a lid and a radon pump pumps out the air. I could have a dead mouse rotting in the sump and it would not affect my basement's air, but Sherlock (my cat) takes care of any mice.

Lori Byron on 13 Feb, 2014:

[CITY] 
No, we are not aware of health hazards relating to the standing water in the bottom of sump containers. Installation of sump pumps follow all current Michigan building and plumbing codes.

Frank Burdick on 13 Feb, 2014:

Who at the city provided this response?

 All City responses must be ATTRIBUTED or we can just assume that Famous in Your Field is the author of all "City" responses.