Sewer Pump Stations are the Vital Component of Sanitation

Ever wondered how wastewater is transferred uphill from your home to a treatment facility? The answer lies in the critical yet often unnoticed components of our sanitation systems: sewer pump stations. These essential systems ensure the smooth and effective removal of wastewater where a gravity system is not possible.

What is a Sewer Pump Station?

Sewer pump stations provide the necessary hydraulic pressure to move the sewage from residential, commercial, or industrial areas to a treatment plant. Also known as a lifting station, sewer pump stations play a pivotal role in municipal sewage management. It's designed to pump wastewater from lower to higher elevations when the gradient of the area doesn't allow for a gravity-fed system. Gravity-fed sewer systems are where wastewater flows downhill via gravity due to pipes being laid at a downward sloping grade. When this cannot be achieved (often due to depth), pump stations are often implemented. A pump station energises this liquid through the use of submersible pumps, enabling it to continue to transfer discharge wastewater successfully against gravity. 

Understanding the function and importance of these pump stations is crucial to ensure your sewage wastewater is being disposed of appropriately.

Key Components that make up a Pump Station?

The essential elements of a sewer pump station include:

• Wet Well: This underground chamber is where incoming sewage is collected, serving as the initial holding area before it's pumped through the system.
• Pumps: The key element to any pump station, submersible pumps are custom selected to suit the unique needs of each hydraulic system. Depending on the volume of wastewater and the distance it needs to be transported, pumps with suitable capabilities are selected and installed.
• Pipes and Valves: Pipes guide the wastewater through the system, while valves control the flow and prevent backflow, ensuring the sewage moves in the desired direction only. Choosing the rising main size for the pumps is vital in order to achieve the desired discharge rate and is usually done alongside pump selection.
• Control Panel: Includes the electrical components that automate the pumps’ operation, activating them when the wastewater reaches a predetermined level in the wet well. These often include high-level alarm and pump fault capabilities.
• Emergency Backup Systems: To prevent overflows during power outages, some stations are equipped with generators or battery systems to act as a backup power supply.

How Do Sewer Pump Stations Work?

A sewer pumping station  plays a crucial role in managing wastewater. Here’s how they work:

1. Collection: Wastewater from residential or commercial properties enters the sewer system and flows by a gravity-fed system into the pump station’s wet well.
2. Detection and Activation: Float switches  (or similar level sensors) in the wet well detect the level of wastewater. When it reaches a certain height, these switches activate the pumps.
3. Pumping: The controller energises the pumps causing them to engage, hydraulically pumping the sewage out of the wet well through a pressurised pipe system called a rising main.
4. Transportation: Driven by the pumps, the sewage flows out of the chamber, and up the rising main towards the wastewater treatment plant.
5. Deactivation: As the water level in the wet well lowers, the pumps are turned off until the level rises again, thus maintaining an efficient cycle.

1125L sewage dual pump station ready for delivery to Site

Benefits of Sewer Pump Stations

Sewage pumping stations offer several advantages for wastewater management:

• Flexibility: They allow for development in areas with challenging landscape.
• Efficiency: They ensure proper wastewater flow even in low-lying areas where gravity systems are ineffective.
• Reduced Costs: Compared to installing deep gravity sewers, pump stations are more cost-effective.
• Public Health Protection: By efficiently transporting wastewater, they prevent overflows and potential health hazards.

Whether you're involved in engineering, urban planning, or simply curious about how to manage wastewater, recognising the function and necessity of sewage pump stations is essential. To learn more about how to start your selection, contact us today!