Knowledgebase

Iron ochre #924366

Asked February 09, 2026, 12:57 PM EST

What is the best chemical treatment to control iron ochre in sump pump pits? Chlorine, Iron out, Clenit or something else? Is there any company who specializes in treatment? Each year I have Foundation Systems of Michigan spray it out but they don’t remove the pumps to clean it. I have gone through 5 pumps in 7 years because they get clogged. I greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide as I am very concerned my pumps will fail leading to flooding in the basement. There must be someone who can keep it under control. Thank you.

Oakland County Michigan

Expert Response

2/12/26

Good afternoon and thank you for reaching out.  Apologies for the delay in getting back with you.  I'm going to recommend you connect with Extension Educator Bindu Bhakta.  Here's Bindu's email address:  
<personal data hidden>

Best wishes,
Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/ Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health   Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. Replied February 12, 2026, 1:51 PM EST

Loading ...