How To Float In Water

Float Down lacks leader

The Float Down is in troubled waters, as no one is willing to claim ownership as an organizer.

The U.S. Coast Guard tried to shut down the event last year, but nearly 3,000 people showed up at Conger-Lighthouse Beach on Aug. 15. After receiving clearance at the last minute, floaters shoved their rafts and inner tubes into the water and floated underneath the Blue Water Bridge and down the St. Clair River to Marysville.

Even though participants still drifted on their merry way, unofficial organizers Erik and Melissa Kimball of Port Huron were prosecuted for illegally organizing the event.

The Kimballs were sued for $8,000 last October by the U.S. Coast Guard. Although the Kimballs won the case two weeks ago, they said they only will be participating this year.

Social media sites seem to be the only medium keeping the Float Down alive, as active Facebook and Twitter accounts tout this year's event date as Aug. 21.

The Coast Guard is requesting an official organizer fill out paperwork for the event to happen, including liability insurance.

"They don't want it to happen," Erik Kimball said of the Coast Guard. "They don't like that they can't control it."

While some feel the city of Port Huron should take charge, the city shouldn't be liable for the actions of participants, City Manager Bruce Brown said.

City involvement with the Float Down would "kill the spontaneity" of the community event, Brown said. The city considered getting involved after the 2009 Float Down, but officials wanted to leave its uniqueness intact.

"It's good for Port Huron," he said of the Float Down. "I'm hoping people just show up. It's a city park and available to the public."

This year, the course has been shortened to end at Desmond Landing to make the Float Down shorter and safer, Brown said.

Port Huron Police Chief Michael Reaves advised people to be safe if they choose to participate by wearing life preservers and being aware of their alcohol intake.

"I'm not opposed to the event," Reaves said. "It sounds like fun."

Longtime Port Huron resident Margaret Enright said she's always gone on the Float Down.

"It's the best way to get people into Port Huron," she said.

The Float Down began as a small gathering in the 1970s. Squashed by the Coast Guard in 1988, the event returned in 2008 as a safer version than the original, thanks to then-organizer Mark Bills. The Float Down had about 5,000 participants in 2009 who battled windy weather conditions that put about 8 people on the Canadian side of the river. There have been no deaths associated with the Float Down in its history.

Best Sump Pump Float Switch – How To Find It | Free Article Submission

Does your current sump pump float switch leave something to be desired? Does it fail too quickly? Does the cut on and cut off height cause the pump to run too frequently? I faced all of these issues and want to share how I learned to deal with them and how I found the best switch.

Float Switch Expectations

My expectations were too high. I expected pump switches to last as long as cast iron pump housing. After reading many sump pump blogs by home owners who complained about the short life of switches, after talking with manufacturers who admit float switches are prone to quick failure, after talking with plumbers who make money on homeowners who do not replace their own switch, I concluded rather than complain how short the life of a switch is, I needed to learn how to plan for sump pump float switch failure and find the best one for my water pumping needs.

How To Find The Best

The first thing I did was answer questions regarding my water situation; then I reviewed the available options. It became obvious which option was best suited for my water pumping needs.

Existing Water Situation

Here are the questions I answered to understand my existing water situation. The answer to the following questions led me to find the best float switch solution for my water pumping needs. I am sharing the list with you so you too may find your best solution.

Is your house located in a high water table area where heavy rain storms occur frequently? Does your pump run even during a dry season more than once an hour? A factory preset float switch turn on and turn off setting does not work well because the turn on may be too low and there may only be a three to four-inch difference between turn on and turn off.

How big is your sump pump pit? Do you have a battery backup and primary submersible sump pump sitting side by side on the sump basin floor and they just fit in the pit? Two pumps means there are also two discharge pipes in the pit leaving no room for a tether float switch.

Is the ground water in your sump basin murky, and contaminated with brine or chemicals? Not all sump pump switches handle a pH factor or calcium carbonate well.

Are you on a tight budget? It is more economical to replace a float switch than discard the pump when the float switch fails. Not all sump pumps have replaceable switches.

Are you a do it yourself homeowner who chooses to replace the float switch? Hiring someone to do the job every two or three years becomes costly. Some switches are easier and quicker to replace than others.

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