Sulfur smell from sump crock

[Exemy]

Hello,

I have a new build house with a natural drain installed around the sides and back of the house. This was needed to help move the water from a natural spring that was hit while digging for the basement foundation. The house now has two sump crocks, one for the sump pump and another where apparently the natural drain is tied into. I have no issue with the sump crock with the sump pump, however I have a sulfur smell coming from the other crock. This crock has a lid bolted to cover it and no openings in the lid.

The builder has offered no decent solutions. So far it has been caulked around the lid and the sump crock but the sulfur smell is still coming through.

Before caulking the lid I noticed that the water level in the crock stays at a constant point, so the natural drain line is working perfectly. There are also three drain lines entering the sump crock. There was a milky white shape in the water that at first I thought was a grocery store plastic bag and tried to fish out, but it turned out to not be a solid object? Also, there are no houses behind mine so this sulfur smell is natural and most likely coming from those springs behind the house.

What else can be done to prevent the sulfur smell from coming into my basement?

I do not plan on ever needing to use this sump crock and do not know why they put in this second sump crock? I do plan on finishing up the basement, but this area will be used for storage and closed off with a door from the finished part.

Thanks in advance for any help with this issue.

[HayZee518]

i don't think there is anything you can do because the spring is a naturally flowing spring. your contractor should be able to reroute the flow to a french drain some feet away from the house, but you'll never stop it or the odor.

[Exemy]

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking more in the line of doing something to stop the odor from coming into the basement and not stopping the flow of water through the natural drain. Possibly setting up some kind of plastic barrier and maybe an pvc pipe to exhaust the odor to the outside. I would even consider enclosing the sump crock in a concrete barrier (but not concreting the sump crock itself). I would not be sure what would work the best and whether either of these, plastic or concrete, will block the sulfur odor?

I would like to submit the ideas to the builder instead of waiting for him to come up with ideas to correct the issue.

[earthworm]

The trouble is, the builder has no idea what to do....
Here, we need an engineer, a good one at that...
I'd try to vent things as well as possible..
How about your water, does it have the sulfur taste ?
IMO, many building sites are really unfit but are used anyway...imagine a lifetime of problems...

[HayZee518]

I don't have the sulfur issue. Our town's water comes from three wells. It is tested once a week for coliform bacteria and is chlorinated.

[earthworm]

I don't have the sulfur issue. Our town's water comes from three wells. It is tested once a week for coliform bacteria and is chlorinated.

This , IMO, is the better way of doing things.
Here in Goldsboro, and York Haven, everyone has their own little well(polluted and low pressure) ...ask how I know...
I now advocate "city water".
All of the people must have decent water with good taste and excellent pressure..
And, I believe this is more economical in the long run.

[Exemy]

The water is fine and is municipal water, we don't have a well. The sulfur is coming from the natural springs that I am trying to divert away from my house.

Since this is a second sump crock and doesn't contain a sump pump - could I just connect the drain tile and cover the crock semi-permenently with a concrete lid? Or should I vent it similar to those randon venting systems? I would prefer not to vent as then it would move the smell outside which is close to our deck.

Thanks for the responses.

[earthworm]

Bear in mind that I am using experience and sense, but not engineering skills. I would seal the smelly sump tub/basin/crock and run the water down hill to the property edge...try to capture a prevailing breeze...
Maybe you should test for radon....but, IMO, this is "overblown".

[HayZee518]

surface water springs passing over a sulfur bed will never get de-odorized. it is a naturally occuring phenomenom. a drilled well through bedrock to an aquafer can be drilled too deep and picks up sulfur.
you said the contractor/builder has no idea what to do.
I would have investigated this builder against a known track record and his sub contractors and their track records. a well driller has success rates and failures and what the disposition was, if they went to court.
I have a friend that is a well driller. He has a degree from an accredited college. He said most aquifers are clean running but once in a while the drill breaks through and hits a side of the well where the rock bearing sulfur is, hence you get sulfur as it is dissolved in the water. it's harmless he says just aesthetically non pleasant from the odor.

[rmw]

You should be able to get a lid for the crock or have a steel plate made and bolt to the floor with some silicone to seal out gasses. I would then install a plastic vent pipe from the lid to the out side of the house.

[Exemy]

Thanks for the replies.

I have already tried the silicone caulk with the plastic lid cover, but that did not work. I will upgrade the lid and build in the venting system as well.