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sump pump dangers?

Sump Pump Concerns

A person is considering renting a small house/office with a basement that requires a sump pump for drainage. The basement will be used as a darkroom and workroom. The concern is about health problems from chemical mixtures in the open sump producing gases. The chemicals used are Kodak or Ilford processing chemicals (B&W) and Selenium toner.

Ventilation and Chemical Disposal

Any darkroom should have good ventilation. Gases from normal BW darkroom chemicals can cause discomfort but are not really dangerous. Selenium solution can be a problem because of the ammonia. A solution is to run fresh water through the pump after each printing session.

Explosive or Poisonous Vapors

The person is concerned about explosive or poisonous vapor combinations when dumping exhausted chemistry in larger quantities. Earlier darkrooms had direct sewer drainage, so this was not an issue.

Sump Pump Installation

Make sure to have a J-Bend in the sink drain and in line with the pump drain. Ensure a vent pipe in the drain plumbing to prevent reverse vacuum. A properly installed sump pump poses no danger of fumes.

Alternative Disposal

Questionable chemicals can be discarded into a bucket and dumped directly down a drain, bypassing the sump pump. The only potentially explosive chemicals encountered in a traditional B&W darkroom have been film cleaner and alcohol. Some household chemicals, like Clorox, can do nasty things when mixed with some photo chemicals.

Selenium Toner Usage

Selenium toner should be replenished and reused, not discarded in large quantities. If discarding, use it to exhaustion and leave scrap prints in it overnight to remove as much selenium as possible before discarding it.

Open Sump Safety

An open sump could be a safety issue, especially in a darkroom. An issue encountered was bacterial growth during idle periods, causing a rank odor. Ordinary household bleach can be used to kill the growth. Replacing the open container with a laundry tray with a cover can help.

Ammonia Odor

If an ammonia odor is detected, it is more likely to be fixer than toner.

Sump Solution

A solution is a 50-gallon plastic barrel with a lid for a sump, vented outside. A back-flow preventer should be installed in the line after the pump.