UPDATE: 8/28 9:00AM EASTERN: The power went out last night at 2am and didn’t come back on until 8:15am. The pump worked well, but I completely underestimated the volume of water entering my basement. I could not pump fast enough, so we retreated, and Hurricane Irene gave us an 18-inch indoor swimming pool in our basement.

I made a hand pump to avoid basement flooding, just in case the power goes out and the sump pump stops working. Pictures below. I use the following Materials:

• 1 @ Wood 3/4″ wood board suitable to secure the pump and stand on
• 10 feet 1 1/4″ PVC Pipe
• 5 feet 1″ PVC Pipe
• 1 foot 3/4″ PVC Pipe
• 1 @ 1 1/4″ PVC T-Connector
• 1 @ 1″ PVC T-Connector
• 6 feet hose, ~1 1/4″ outside diameter
• 1-4 @ 1 1/4″ PVC Elbow Connectors
• 2 @ 1 1/4″ Straight Connectors
• 2 @ 1 1/4″ Check Valves
• 2 feet metal straps
• 4 screws
• 1 @ 1 1/4″ to 1″ male/female straight PVC adapter
• 1 @ 1″ to 3/4″ male/female straight PVC adapter
• 1 @ 3/4″ Female/female PVC threaded adapter
• 1 @ metal threaded garden hose adapter
• 1 @ PVC cap with 1″ outside diameter OR large dowel (to fit snugly inside 1″ PVC)
• 2 @ #18 O-Rings (1 3/36″ O.D)
• 1 Table saw
• 1 PVC Cutting Tool
• PVC Primer
• PVC Glue

Instructions

The hand pump works by sucking water through one check valve, into a hand-driven piston, then out another check valve, through a garden hose. I created three different connectors for the intake: A hose (most verisitile, but most expsensive), a straight-down connector for my sump, and a rectangular intake connector for

I wish I had time to give detailed instructions. I don’t. Here are some pointers:

• Cut the piston to about waist height.
• Make sure to tighten the compression rings VERY tight on the check valves. They are the first to blow.
• You can plug the 3/4″ piston with a dowel, or any random piece of PVC that will fit over the top. I simply glued mine on.
• The pump will work without the O-Rings, but it will leak slightly each time you pump. But in an emergency situation, who cares?
• Be careful to not go too deep when cutting the channels for the O-Rings. I used a table saw, and had to cut about 70% into the PVC.
• Make the piston shorter than the shaft, or at least make sure to place the O-Rings higher up the piston. Otherwise, when you push down on the piston, the O-rings will get stuck under the bottom of the shaft, where it enters the T.
• I tested it by emptying a pool and pushing water up 8 feet through a garden hose. It works.
• There is no need to glue the intake pipe or hose.
• Pump was inspired by a design created by a 6-year-old boy.
• Total cost, not including tools was around $50. The hose cost $23, and was the most expensive part.

Entire Pump with all attachments

I just wanted to demonstrate that you can attach multiple intakes to the pump. In this case, I have a hose, a straight-down intake, and a rectangular intake that will stay at ground level, and go over a barrier.

A wider view of the hose and straight PVC intake pipes. You don't have to glue these on.

I used 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4" PVC pipe for this project.

Don't forget to glue the PVC pipe together. I used metal straps to secure it to the wood. I used #18 O-Rings.

I used #18 O-rings. I had to carefully cut channels into the piston, through about 70% of the PVC to get the O-Rings to fit. Be careful when you cut the channels using a table saw. Sorry the image is turned.

You can use a saw, but these little tools are really handy. They're about $12 at Home Depot.

The 1" Piston fits inside the 1 1/4" pipe. It's a pretty snug fit. It will work without O-rings, but will leak. Then again, if you're in an emergency, who cares if there's a little spray? I'm sorry this one is turned, too.

This is one of the most important details. You can use anything convenient to cap the end of the 1" diameter PVC interior piston. A large dowel would work, too. I just happened to find a miscelaneous piece of round PVC that fit nicely. I used a table saw to cut channels for the O-Rings. It's a very snug fit.

I just used a simple 1" T connector to make the piston handle.

You can see the piston and the shaft side-by-side. The piston is inserted into the shaft. With the O-Rings, it's a snug fit, so you have to make sure to cut the O-ring channels deep enough; but not too deep. IMPORTANT (and not shown here): The O-Rings were too low on the piston, and when I pushed down on the piston the O-Rings got stuck on the bottom of the shaft, where the shaft entered the T. I solved the problem by gluing a stopper at the top of the piston. You can also solve this problem by making the piston shorter than the shaft, or placing the O-Rings higher up the piston.

Make sure that the check valves are pointed the same direction-- away from the intae and toward the garden hose adaptor. I found that the check valve compression rings were the weakest part of the pump, and tended to blow out first. Make sure you TIGHTEN ALL COMPRESSION RINGS very tightly to avoid blowing them out.

The T connector connects two 6-inch pieces of 1 1/4" PVC with the check valves. I secured it with two metal straps. As the piston is lifted, water flows through the intake check valve. As the piston is lowered, the water flows out the outtake check valve.

The outtake check valve is connected to a 1 1/4" PVC pipe, which is adapted down to a 3/4" PVC pipe. Then I added an extra adapter with a female garden hose connector.

Robert E. Glenn, President
Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
c/o Julie O’Kelly
2201 W. Broad Street, Suite 101
Richmond, VA 23220

Mr. Glenn:
I recently took the Virginia Bar Exam. I received a letter dated January 27, 2010 which contained instructions for the February exam. To my horror, I saw that the letter contained my full name, date of birth, social security number, school, MPRE score, results of my Character and Fitness Questionnaire, address, and email address on the form. This single piece of paper contains enough information for someone to impersonate me and commit identity theft. I count myself lucky that someone else didn’t check my mailbox the day this letter arrived.

I was sure that such an oversight was an isolated error, so I called the Board of Bar Examiners’ office to find out how a mistake like this could happen, to ask for a copy of the board’s privacy policy, and asked who changed my authorization to put my identity at such substantial risk.

I was informed that the mailing of my sensitive personal information in a single letter was deliberate, the Board has no privacy policy, and that the Board authorized this reckless use of my personal information, against my wishes and authorization.

This letter is to object to some of the Board’s more dangerous privacy practices as I currently understand them, and request additional information.
Please send a copy of the Board’s privacy policy. If one does not exist, please send the following information:

• How long will the Board keep my personal information on file, and for what purposes?
• Does the Board store my personal information on encrypted hard drives?
• On how many computers does the Board store copies of my personal information, and where do the hard drives go when the computers are retired or replaced?
• With what entities does the Board share my personal information, and under what conditions?
• What security measures, if any, does the Board use to detect intrusion or improper use by employees?

I understand that the Board needs to verify personal information with examinees. However, even minor common-sense steps would substantially increase security. These may include:

• Sending separate mailings, each of which lacks a full set of personal information.
• Omit digits of the social security number.
• Write and disseminate a Privacy Policy, and update your organization’s privacy practices.

I hope that the Board takes these matters seriously, and updates its privacy policies and practices immediately. The Board of Bar Examiners has violated my trust, and I fear that the Board will continue to put me at risk of identity theft and other harms.

I look forward to answers on these most pressing issues. I also stand ready to assist in your effort to improve your privacy practices.

Sincerely,
Aaron Titus

Your meeting was supposed to last just 45 minutes, but the first 35 have been devoted to the first agenda item. Most eyes have glazed over and you are the only one speaking. Just as tired as everyone else you say, “OK, so we all agree that we’re going to do that?” Hearing no objection, you move on to the next subject.

You are relieved to move on, but don’t be surprised when you have to rehash the same subject at the next meeting. Do not mistake movement for progress; your discussion was an utter failure because it lacked the fundamental element to any progress: An Action Item.

Every action item is comprised of three things:

• A Person
• A Deliverable
• A Date

Absent one of these three things, a decision is not an action item. It is a wish. All would-be “action items,” “goals,” or “decisions” which fail to include one or more of these components were a waste of your breath and their time. Action items must be clear, measurable, and have accountability. Unless you want to rehash the same issue at the next meeting, never walk away without identifying a person, a deliverable and a date for each action item, regardless of the subject matter. Let’s analyze some would-be “action items” from actual meetings:

Assignment 1: “Development of a power point presentation to train staff.”

The three components of action are a person, a deliverable, and a date. Here’s your assignment: Next time you lead a meeting, don’t rest until you identify the three elements of action for every assignment. It’s the single most effective thing you can do to shorten meetings and avoid rehashing the same issue again in the future.

So let’s evaluate my assignment: