The sewer lift station of municipal facilities is outdated. Pumps are about to expire their service life, and controls require modernization, and the access hatch should be replaced. The concrete wet well is robust and sturdy.
Should the entire station be demolished and rebuilt? Not necessarily. The better question to consider is whether or not the current infrastructure can support pumps that meet modern standards without compromising reliability or future capacity.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
The retrofitting of pumps that are precisely designed can help save infrastructure, and can also help in replacing parts that are no longer in compliance with functional requirements.
Start with the structure that nobody would like to replace.
Wet wells are often the most expensive and difficult component to replace, as they are constructed underground and attached to existing pipes, and essential to the collection of wastewater.
If the concrete structure remains functional, it is possible to decrease excavation and construction work.
However, damage to the access hatch can make the process. Romtec Utilities identifies wet well hatch replacement as a standard retrofit requirement. It may be more durable to replace the top layer rather than attach a new hatch to a deteriorated concrete. This approach can be employed to improve access and the structure’s usability without needing to rebuild the whole wet well.
The technology behind the pump with more power is different
Imagine that the area of residence has exploded in size from the time of the first lift station installation. The current pumps might not be able to handle the demand for the increasing flow of wastewater.
A pumping station upgrade could involve higher-horsepower pumps, but equipment selection cannot happen independently of the surrounding system.
Engineers must also evaluate the system’s hydraulic requirements, including the flow and head total dynamic. Installing a larger pump before evaluating the conditions can cause more problems than it resolves. The planning of future capacity at the initial design phase can make later expansion considerably easier.
Ensure that the waste water is flowing throughout construction
Retrofitting wastewater pumps has its own unique challenges, that is not encountered in other projects. The station might need to be operational while construction is underway.
Even while contractors are working. Based on the nature of the project the temporary bypass pumps could be needed to maintain services during removal and the installation of existing equipment.
Romtec Utilities faced this kind of problem at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia.
The project required replacing two old wastewater lifting stations, whilst maintaining operation at this facility. Site-specific engineering packages, replacement systems for packaged equipment, and bypass pumping strategies helped make room for the station’s footprints and operational demands. This example demonstrates why the sequence of construction is important to consider prior to installation.
If replacement is the best alternative
Not every station is suitable for rehabilitation. A badly degraded wet-well or a structural weakness or major changes in the hydraulic requirements can make the replacement of a sewer lift station more suitable than altering the existing system.
The choice should take into account the condition of the structure, compatibility with equipment access to construction to the site, service continuity, as well as long-term requirements for operation. Romtec Utilities begins retrofits and replacements by identifying elements that are to remain and the ones that require replacement.
From there, the business creates engineering solutions for specific sites, preliminary designs, and budgetary estimates. Prefabricated components are also useful to facilitate installation and reduce the number of on-site requirements.
The project won’t be finished until the pumps start
Modern lift stations have to be operated as an integrated system. Before returning a lift facility to normal service, restart tests, commissioning and verification of equipment are required to confirm that all pumps, controls and equipment work in accordance with their design.
Manuals for operation and maintenance, as well as instruction for operators are crucial. Maintenance personnel must be familiar with the new equipment and operational procedures, as well as the documentation before they take charge of the station.
A successful retrofit will preserve the infrastructure while still addressing the limitations which made modernization necessary.
Municipalities and owners of facilities need to consider more than just immediate repairs. The most successful project is one that integrates the new equipment into existing structures, maintains essential services throughout construction and also prepares the pumping system for years to come of operation.
