Engineering would be much easier if water came at the same rate.

It’s not.

The volume of wastewater that enters a residential system varies throughout the day. Industrial and commercial buildings could have operating peak times. Stormwater conditions can dramatically change with the weather. Demand for clean water also increases and decreases based on the use.

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As a result, designing a pump station isn’t simply a matter of identifying one flow number and selecting equipment capable of meeting it. Engineers should be aware of the environmental conditions that the system will be subject to.

Don’t just think about the capacity of your equipment, as well as operating conditions

The flow that is the highest in importance however it’s just part of the process. Imagine a wastewater system that is designed for a high peak-flow. Most of the time the flow coming in can be considerably lower. During these normal periods however, the station has to function properly.

It raises issues such as the sizing and size of the pump as well as control conditions for head, how to adapt equipment when the demand for it changes.

A properly engineered package pumping system brings these elements to meet the needs of the facility instead of using the highest capacity of the pump as the primary design goal.

Everyday, the Wastewater System has its own Theme

Throughout the life of an wastewater lift station influent conditions can change.

The system has to collect wastewater and activate its pumps in accordance with the strategy of control established for the station. Structural dimensions, pumps, valves, pipes, electrical components and controls all play roles in that process.

The design can also incorporate considerations specific to the site. Romtec Utilities will incorporate any extra systems, including grinders, vaults, and odor-control systems in the event of need. This creates a station that is engineered to fit the needs of the project, rather than being a standard design that is which can be applied to all wastewater sources.

Stormwater can change much faster

Stormwater offers a completely different operational scenario. A stormwater lift station could see relatively little activity during dry conditions but then experience significantly higher inflows during a weather event. The station could be part of a larger flood-control treatment, detention, or drainage plan, making the stormwater strategy surrounding it an essential element of the system design.

In the process of developing these systems, Romtec Utilities considers a variety of aspects, such as the flow rate required and head condition, the system size, site needs, and environmental considerations.

The layout of a station designed for commercial projects could differ significantly from the design of a station that is designed for stormwater management in the municipal system.

The Head Conditions are Important Together with Flow

The ability to move 1,000 gallons is just part of the engineering issue. Engineers also need to know where the water is headed and the kind of resistance the pumping system must overcome.

The changes in elevation, the piping configuration the discharge conditions and other system parameters affect the head conditions against which pumps work.

This connection between head and flow is another reason that choosing the right pump solely on its rating is not enough. The pump technology and the station’s design must be compatible to the conditions of hydraulics throughout the application.

The station should be designed to match the actual conditions it will have to endure

Romtec Utilities designs and develops custom pumping systems designed to meet the requirements of wastewater, stormwater management, clean water, industrial applications, boosters, and much more. The process involves preliminary design plans, budgeting, set-ups, system supplies, documentation, starting and testing.

The fundamental engineering principle is quite simple: genuine pumping systems don’t spend their lives operating under one convenient set of conditions.

It is also important to consider particular hydraulic requirements for the project as well as changing flow, demand and requirements. It is crucial to design a station that can manage this challenge.