Swildon's Mud Sump

[JohnMCooper]

I estimate 10 hours bailing will be required to empty the Mud Sump from its current state provided no more water enters.

Yesterday 3 of us bailed for 45 minutes but hardly noticed any change in level owing to the large surface area.

At present 3 people can work effectively, one emptying the top dam into the Muddy Oxbow whilst the other 2 bail the water from the Mud Sump into the top dam.

As there is no air flow until the sump is broken it's best to give the area a week to recover rather than try to empty the thing in one long session using a relay of people (at least that's my thinking).

 

[JohnMCooper]

Had another look today.

The Mud Sump was fuller than left last Sunday and the top dam and Moles' Dig both full to overflowing.

Two of us bailed for 45 minutes leaving with the top dam pretty empty and the Moles Dig water not overflowing into the main passage.

Did not remove any water from the Mud Sump itself.

 

[Maj]

Would it be easier/less effort to take a 12v pump and battery down there. Leave it to pump out and then remove a week later. ??


Maj.

 

[JohnMCooper]

How many cubic metres can a 12v pump and battery shift? Would be against a head of 2-3m. Someone ought to go and take a picture.

 

[Ali M]

What would really help is for someone to assess how water is flowing into the Mud Sump and to find a solution to prevent this.  A few years ago we built a dam across the passage diverting the small inlet on the left (that originates from Maypole Aven in South East Inlets) into the Muddy Oxbow (which drains via the passages beyond the First Mud Sump into Watergate). Also, a concrete dam was built at the top of the aven on the far side of the Mud Sump and this water is piped away at high level towards Shatter Pot. These measures diverted the known feeders away from the Mud Sump and certainly helped the situation. Is any repair work required or is water now entering the Mud Sump from another source?

 

[Ali M]

Also, if anyone has some good ideas on how to improve the present "engineering" and stop water from entering the Mud Sump - please feel free to put it in place. 

 

[MJenkinson]

I?ll get in trouble for this but.......can you not ?just? take the roof off? Bit drastic but would mean you could then remove all the plumbing works, so some aesthetic benefit?

Note I?ve zip diddly idea of the water flow, how long it is etc - just a thought.

 

[tony from suffolk]

When bailing the blessed thing, I often wondered if you could dig the bottom of the mud sump out, and maybe allow the water to drain off I know not where. But there again, the mud sump adds something to the character of the cave, and we'd probably all miss it.

 

[JohnMCooper]

Did the Short Round Trip this evening. Did not have to bail anything on the way round. Please leave the yellow bucket in the floor of the Mud Sump to make future bailing easier.