What Operators Need From Engineers After a Pump Station Is Commissioned

The performance of a lift station can be determined long before it becomes an concrete structure complete with valves, pumps, and piping. Flow calculations, site elevations systems pressure, wastewater characteristics, peak conditions access to maintenance, controls and capacity in the future all impact what should ultimately be built.

When comparing lift station designers for a project it’s not about who can design the pumps. The question is not who can specify pumps, but rather, who can translate the location’s requirements and operating conditions into a system that’s practical to construct, operate and maintain.

Image credit: romtecutilities.com

Gravity Has Limits

Gravity is usually the most efficient method to transport wastewater. But, the terrain and the building patterns can make it difficult. The new residential, commercial and industrial sites are often too low or too distant from gravity sewer system.

The lift station is the device that transports the wastewater to the next site of collection. The design of a lift station requires an understanding of the normal operating conditions as well as more difficult situations like peak flow and maintenance of pumps, malfunctioning equipment or future rises in demand.

Companies considered among the best wastewater designers should therefore evaluate the entire conveyance problem rather than treating the station as an isolated piece of equipment.

Existing Infrastructure Complicates the Puzzle

The main issue isn’t building new structures. Municipalities are often required to repair or replace older stations while keeping essential infrastructure for wastewater functioning.

Wet wells that are in use, force mains, electrical services, controls, boundary lines for the site, as well as downstream infrastructure can constrain the design. Engineers will have to determine what can be left as well as what is required to be upgraded, and what new components are needed.

Romtec Utilities offers pumping solutions for municipal, private, industrial, commercial and retrofit applications. Pumping systems can be adapted in accordance with the specific needs of each project.

Stormwater is subject to different rules

The top stromwater system engineers using the terms used in the search should solve a unique hydraulic problem. Stormwater systems may experience significant variations in volume, based on the amount of rainfall, drainage area, capacity for detention, and permissible discharge rates.

For instance, a station which serves as a detention zone may need to temporarily hold the runoff for a while before pumping it out at a controlled rate. Engineers need to consider the flow rate, the head condition, the demands of the environment, the flood management goals, and the features of the receiving drainage system.

Prefabrication is a way to take the work off-site

Field assembly is a difficult procedure that could cause scheduling conflicts, mistakes, delays, and change orders. Romtec Utilities uses substantial prefabrication prior to equipment arriving at the construction site.

In a controlled atmosphere, completing more assembly work and quality-control work can cut down on the construction process on the field. Romtec Utilities’ approach to project management can speed up the time it takes to install certain kinds of equipment.

Commissioning Is Part of Engineering Success

A station isn’t a guarantee simply because every part has been installed. Romtec Utilities provides installation advisors and follows construction with startup controls, check-points on the control panel and pump operation checks, system testing, and training for personnel. Documentation also gives operators details they can reference when maintaining the system or contemplating possible expansion plans.

Owners who are looking for the most skilled designers for lift stations should pay attention to this step. The final product of quality engineering should go beyond an acceptable set of drawings. The owner should be able to operate a well-functioning system, well-trained personnel, a well-documented and useful equipment specifically designed for the environment that the station is expected to face in its day-to-day operations.