Garage pit full of water

I'm currently buying a property with a nice shed with a mechanics pit for maintenance but unfortunately it's full of water and a safety risk for tenants.

I know I could pump the water out with a submersible and have it sealed so there's no ingress etc but probably not going to get me any better yield so thinking to have it boarded up and made safe so a child cannot possibly come to grief, or an adult for that matter.

What do you think is the best way to manage this risk?

 

Fill it in with gravel or concrete rather than just board it up.
The best option might depend on how water gets into the pit?

 

If it was my own PPOR then I'd do what it takes to keep it useful for doing my own maintenance etc. It just seems a shame.

 

Like swimming pools, great if it is a PPoR, headache if it is an IP.

 

Yes, I guess that's about it.

 

How did the water get in? I would be worried about some issues with the slab and surrounds if there is water in the pit unless water is able to flow into the garage due to slope and no channel drain at the doorway.

Pits are no longer approved due to the risk of fumes in confined spaces so I would be disabling it by drilling some holes in the bottom for drainage (or fixing whatever is causing water to get in) then filling with grave etc.

 

Well a grave is one alternative which hasn't been raised.

Being a confined space is a very pertinent point.

 

lol that L makes all the difference

 

The gutters at the back of the shed have rusted out in a couple of spots allowing water to run in. It's well constructed and the concrete is in good shape.