a pit or a pool in which water collects In a cave, a sump may simply be a water-filled low place in an otherwise dry passageway, a small, temporary obstacle which provides an invigorating plunge or ear-dipper for wet-suit clad explorers Or it may indicate that the remainder of the cave beyond that point can only be explored by scuba-equipped cave divers The extent of the sump must be successfully determined before further exploration can continue
A built in basin containing a pump that continually removes groundwater from outside your basements walls and floor, discharging the water away from your house It prevents water from inundating your basement
The low area of water in an aquarium system The sump is the reservoir below the dry section of a wet-dry or trickle filter The water level in the sump varies with evaporation