Auto Parts: water pump, weep hole, inner seal

Question
My son has a 98 chevy s 10 .the water pump seems to have some sort of weep hole? is there a plug to put in there or is it time to replace the pump?

Answer
    Time to replace the pump.  The hole is there so that once the inner seal on the bearing fails, you will see the leaking coolant and replace the pump.  If the pump is allowed to operate for long after it starts to leak, the grease will all wash out and the shaft will overheat and shear off.  I've seen it happen.  At least this one isn't hard to work on and the pump doesn't cost a whole lot.