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Word of the Day: SUMP-PUMP

Before my basement flooded the first time, I knew little about the hole in my basement that held cob webs and a mysterious piece of equipment.

As a survivor of basement flooding, I am embarrassed to admit how much I admire these simple machines — and how much I check to make sure they are functioning.  I have two of these amazing pumps running right now on an every 30 second cycle.

As the children entered the building in pouring rain (again), we heard story after story about the parents they left at home to bail out their basements.  One fourth grader asked me this:  “We have a ZuP Pump but it’s not working.  What is that thing anyway?”

So…here’s my answer:

  1. It’s a SUMP PUMP…not a sub pump or zup pump.
  2. It can be found in a sump pit … or a hole in your basement.
  3. It’s purpose is to remove water that has risen above the foundation of the house.
  4. The water usually drains into the pump pit through drains that line the perimeter of the basement.
  5. When the water fills the hole to a certain level, the pump kicks in, sucking the water up through a tube/pipe out into your yard — where you want it to stay!

Check out this great  DIY on youtube.com.  It helps you understand how the pump works.

Wishing you all the best as you check your basements, worry about the rising water table and survive this crazy spring weather.

 

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Mrs. Q and Second Graders Walked for Water

Mrs. Quigley’s along with Joey from her class and  Jackie from Mrs. Kuieck’s class walked  for water today!  They walked  2.4 miles to get water it back to to the filters at Huizenga Park.   Why would they do this?  To develop an understanding and appreciation for people in countries like Rwanda where the average person walks 3.7 miles to get water with ‘Jerry Cans’ for the day.  Joey, Jackie and Mrs. Q tried carrying these jerry cans –and found it very hard.  They had to work together to carry one can!






They learned that in Rwanda, a child dies every 20 seconds due to water born illnesses.  TThe money that was raised today from their today walk will be used by two organizations to build water filters for many families in Rwanda.