The sewer lift station in a municipality is old. The pumps are nearing the end of their useful life, and the controls require modernization, and the access hatch is deteriorating. The concrete wet well is solid and sturdy.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Do you think the station should be demolished and rebuilt? Not necessarily. It is essential to ask if the infrastructure is able to support a modern system of pumping without compromising future capacity as well as reliability or accessibility.
The retrofitting of a pumping station that is carefully designed can save valuable infrastructure, while also replacing components that no longer meet operational requirements.
Start With the Structure Nobody is Trying to Replace.
The wet well is usually one of the most costly and challenging components to replace since it is submerged, connected to existing piping, and vital to the process of removing wastewater.
The retention of a concrete structure that is still serviceable can reduce the excavation and construction.
The degrading of the area around the access hatch might affect this decision. Romtec Utilities has identified wet-well hatch replacement as an essential retrofit. Instead of gluing a hatch to cement that is deteriorating replacing the entire top layer can be a better option. This option can be utilized to increase access and improve the usability of the structure without having to rebuild the entire wet well.
An improved pump changes the engine
Suppose a residential neighborhood has grown substantially since its first lift station was built. It is possible that the current pumps aren’t sufficient to handle the increasing the flow of wastewater.
A station’s upgrade may involve higher-horsepower pumps, but the choice of equipment cannot be made independently of the surrounding system. Pumps with higher horsepower may require adjustments to the discharge elbows and pipes and electronic controls, valves and other parts.
Engineers should also assess the hydraulic requirements of the system, including the flow rate and the total dynamic head. The installation of a bigger pump without checking these parameters can cause operational problems rather than solving these. Planning for future capacity when you are making the initial design stage can allow for later expansion much more easily.
Keep waste water moving during construction
A wastewater pump station retrofit introduces a challenge that ordinary equipment replacement projects may not face: the station may need to remain operational throughout construction.
It is still a problem for wastewater to enter the system even when contractors are working. In the case of a project an interim bypass pumping system may be required to maintain operation while the existing equipment is removed and new components are put in place.
Romtec Utilities was able to take on this challenging task in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Brunswick, Georgia.
The project consisted of replacing two old wastewater lift stations as well as maintaining the operation at the facility. Site-specific engineering and packaged replacement systems and bypass pumping strategies helped allow for the existing station footprints and operational needs. This example shows why construction sequencing deserves attention prior to the installation process begins.
If you think replacement is the better option
Not all stations are suitable to be renovated. Sewer lift stations may need to be rebuilt for a damaged wet well, or have a low structural capacity.
When making a choice, it is important to consider the structural integrity of the building, its compatibility with equipment, access to construction sites, service continuity and the long-term requirements. Romtec Utilities begins retrofits and replacements by identifying components which are expected to stay and the ones that require replacement.
The company creates engineering solutions for specific sites as well as preliminary designs and budgetary estimates. Prefabricated components also aid in with installation and can reduce building requirements that are required on-site.
The Project isn’t Completion until the Pumps Have Beginning
Modernized lift stations should work as a complete system. Before returning the lift station to service, testing its startup and commissioning are a way to make sure that the pumps, controls and other equipment are operating in accordance with the approved design.
Operator training and operation and maintenance manuals are equally important. Maintenance workers must be aware of the new equipment, operating procedure, and the documentation prior to taking over for the station.
A successful retrofit preserves the infrastructure while still addressing the weaknesses that forced modernization.
Municipalities and owners of facilities must look beyond immediate repair. Most successful projects blend new equipment with existing structures. They maintain vital services throughout construction and then prepare the pumping systems for a lifetime of operation.