We’ve lived in a building in the heart of Burien on 152nd for years, and we love it here. But recently, I’ve been dealing with a persistent issue—my basement sump pump has been running non-stop for four days. This pump is critical, protecting our water heater, furnace, and our personal storage in our small townhouse. In the eight years we’ve been here, the pump has only run twice before: once when our water heater failed and another time when the City of Burien’s irrigation system malfunctioned. The latter caused minor flooding in our neighbor’s basement, but since ours is lower, the water flowed constantly, eventually leading to a small retaining wall issue.
Enough background—let’s get to the current situation. We contacted the city drainage department, who were helpful and turned off all irrigation in front of our property for the last three days. We hoped this would slow down the pump, but it hasn’t.
I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a nerd, so I’ve been timing my pump for days. Every day, it runs faster than the day before. This water isn’t mine—my meter shows no leaks. It’s not my neighbor’s either, as their meter isn’t moving. And it’s not groundwater, since we haven’t had any unusual rainfall.
I’m almost certain this is water from the local water district. While they did send someone out, the issue persists. They performed a chlorine test, which came back negative, but their test at my laundry sink also showed negative. However, a test from my garden hose showed positive.
I’m skeptical of their chlorine test, especially after the faulty result at my sink. So, I’ve ordered a fluoride test instead from Amazon. Fluoride is a more reliable indicator of municipal water leaks since it doesn’t dissipate like chlorine.
I’ll will do my own test and update you tomorrow.
More info I found on this topic
Fluoride vs. Chlorine Testing:
- Fluoride:
- Stability: Fluoride is chemically stable and does not evaporate or degrade as easily as chlorine. This makes it a good indicator of a long-term water source, like a persistent leak from a municipal supply.
- Environmental Persistence: Fluoride tends to remain in the environment longer because it doesn’t readily react with other elements or break down under typical environmental conditions. This could make it a more reliable indicator if you suspect water has been seeping for an extended period.
- Chlorine:
- Volatility: Chlorine is volatile and evaporates quickly, especially when exposed to air or sunlight. If the water has been present for some time, the chlorine might have dissipated, making it less reliable for detecting long-term leaks.
- Usefulness in Fresh Leaks: Chlorine is still useful if you’re testing for a recent or active leak, as municipal water supplies typically contain chlorine to disinfect the water.
Which is Better?
- For Long-Term Leaks: Fluoride is likely a better choice because it remains in the water and environment longer, making it a more consistent indicator of municipal water over time.
- For Recent or Active Leaks: Chlorine can be useful if you suspect the water is fresh and hasn’t been exposed to the environment for long.
If you’re trying to prove that the water is coming from the city’s water supply, fluoride testing might give you stronger evidence over time, especially if the leak has been present for a while.
