The Shop's Mystery Spot

Years ago I wrote about how this one spot in the alley alongside the Shop always dried out quickly. Rain evaporated quicker and snow melted faster. You can read about it here if you like:

https://thesublimetotheridiculous.blogspot.com/2009/06/dry-spot-in-alley.html

The mystery had perhaps been solved! Our neighbors across the alley unfortunately have been having sewer troubles. Their basement filled with water every time there was a heavy rain. After trying many things, it became apparent the sewer had to be dug. The problem was determined to be in the alley where their line tapped into the city main.

Tuesday they had it dug up, right at the place where the concrete dries so readily. The contractor found that there was a sinkhole about twelve feet deep under that spot. That may, he opined, explain the dry spot which I had mentioned to him. In a heavy rain the hole would fill, and once that water was higher than the level of our neighbors' basement floor the basement began to fill, through the broken sewer which was deep in the sinkhole. The sinkhole would be warmed, maybe, as the water sat seeping into the ground and/or the city main.

I'll be watching that spot closely now, and I'll try to think to let you know the result. But it may be a couple years to know for certain.