I have a string that contains a single single quote (') as part of the string. How do I need to modify the string so that SQL will interpret the (') as part of the string and not the end of the string.

'PUMP-SUBMERS,401GPM@706'TDH,BMB,GRUNDFOS'
^ ^ ^
Beginning Feet End of string

Use TWO single quotes to escape the apostrophe.

401GPM@706''TDH

Or, if you use mysql, use the escape character \:

mysql> create table tblX (description varchar(400));
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.05 sec)

mysql> insert into tblX (description)
    -> values ('\'PUMP-SUBMERS,401GPM@706\'TDH,BMB,GRUNDFOS\'');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec)

mysql> select * from tblX;
+--------------------------------------------+
| description                                |
+--------------------------------------------+
| 'PUMP-SUBMERS,401GPM@706'TDH,BMB,GRUNDFOS' |
+--------------------------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

you have the addslashes() php function to make this automatically.
http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.addslashes.php

Hmmm, nevermind me...
I just tested the "usual" way, as Chrishirst explained before, and had the pleasant surprise to see that mysql recognize it too.

I did some rummaging around on the Internet after I posted the question. Found this as a solution.

mysql_real_escape_string($value->part_desc)

Originally Posted by dgkindy

I did some rummaging around on the Internet after I posted the question. Found this as a solution.

mysql_real_escape_string($value->part_desc)

That would work of course, provided you were using PHP to create the query

Originally Posted by dgkindy

I did some rummaging around on the Internet after I posted the question. Found this as a solution.

mysql_real_escape_string($value->part_desc)

The difference with addslahses() is that, as it's stated in the manual, you need to have a mysql installed on the same machine for this to work.
PHP will rely on a function present in the mysql server to do that.

mysql_real_escape_string() calls MySQL's library function mysql_real_escape_string