Lift Station Overview

Water & Wastewater Utility Operation and

M
Management
t for
f Tribes
T ib

Wastewater Lift Station

What is a Lift Station?
Lift stations
At low point in
collection system
Function to Lift and
Push wastewater
from lower elevation
to a higher elevation
Source: T-T Pumps LTD. 2011

Lift Stations
Types of Collection System Lift Stations
Submersible Pump Lift Station
Dry-Well
Dry Well Lift Station

What is a Wet Well?

Submersible Pump Lift Station

Collection
System
outlet

Control Panel
& Alarm

Valve Vault

Wet well

Valves

Multiple Pumps
Valve Vault

Collection
System
inlet

Float Switch

Control Panel
Alarm
Al

Source: 2006 Norweco,

Norweco Inc.
Inc

Pumps

Wet-Well with Submersible Pumps

Storage Vault Size
Wastewater flow
Storage Volume
Working
Sump
Emergency

D=8

What formula is used

to calculate the
storage volume per
vertical foot in an 8
diameter wet well?

H=1
H=1

Types of Submersible Pumps

Pumps Commonly Used
Grinder Pump

Source:http://www.libertypumps.com

Submersible Effluent Pump

Source: www.sewagejector.net

Submersible Lift Station O&M

O&M Access

Hatch- Access
to Valve Vault

Hatch- Access
to pumps

Control Panel

Lift Station Connections

Locate components high in tank riser
Pipe Connections
Valves
Electrical Junction Boxes

Lift Station O&M

Periodically Inspect Wet Wells
Check for oil & grease
Check for debris and grit deposits

Lift Station O&M

Inspect on a Routine Basis
Alarms
- Test alarms manually
- Visual and audible alarms

Pump
p Operation
p
- Manually operate pumps
- Review data from flow
meters or measure
pressure in discharge
forcemain

Lift Station O&M

Inspect on a Routine Basis
Switching Functions
- Inspect floats, run manual test

Record Pump Run Times

- Longer,
g , less frequent
q
p
pump
p run
times are ideal

Measure p
pump
p voltage
g and
amperage
- High or low amperage readings
may indicate
i di t problem
bl

Grinder Pump
Grinder Pump
Lift raw wastewater to collection system
Reduces the size of solids in wastewater by
grinding
g
g them into a slurry
y
Large horsepower pump
Smaller diameter forcemain
Wet well has short retention time

Grinder Pump System

Maintenance
System Reliability
User education and Cooperation to not
discharge troublesome solids
- Hard solids
- Plastics
- Sanitary Products
- Rags
- Stringy Materials

Grinder Pump System

Maintenance
Routine cleaning of vault

Wash down grinder pump vaults

Float Switches
Run pumps and controllers through full cycle
Take voltage and amperage readings high
amperage indicates clog

Dry Well Lift Station

Lift Station Dry Well

Pumps
Valves & Controls
Ventilation
Receiving
W t W ll
Wet-Well

Wet Well
Wet-Well
Alarm
Valves
Inlet

Dry-well
Dry
well Vault
Control Panel

Pumps
Source: Norweco - PosaPrime

Float Switches

Dry Well
Dry Well Size- Dry Pump Room
Space for operator
Lift Pumps
Ventilation System
Valves
Control Panel
Sump pump for floor drain

Dry-Well Lift Station

Wet Well Size
Volume
Working Volume
Emergency Storage Volume
Sump Volume
Float Switches
Pump on
on or off
off
Alarms

Dry Well Lift Station Advantage

Easy Access for routine visual pump inspection

Control Panel & Alarm

Source: CrosStar, LLC.

Copyright 2005 by the Discount-Pumps.biz

Source: JacksonControls LLC.

Enclosed Panel
Wired to pumps and float switches
O
Operator
can manually
ll controll pumps
Sounds high water alarm/ Display Visual Alarm
S
Some
feature
f t
connection
ti to
t an auto-dialer
t di l tto alert
l t
operator of alarm

Emergency Response
Emergency Operating Procedures
Educate community
Quick response to back ups or Alarms
- Respond within 4-6 hours
- Response
p
time depends
p
on emergency
g
y storage
g
volume and flow into wet well

Provide additional storage

g in wet well for short
term power outages or pump failures
Multiple pumps at lift station, alternate in normal
operating conditions

Emergency Power
Portable emergency generator available to
provide
id power d
during
i llong outages
t
Electrical adaptor for connection of portable
generator power to control panel

Emergency Power
Lift stations with generator located on site
ATS Auto Transfer Switch
Exercise standby
power source weekly

Pump Failure Procedure

Septic tank pump trucks
Track mounted pumps on hand for failures
- New lift station installations may include a
bypass connection in valve vault

Safety-Potential hazards
Classified as Confined Space
Exposure to Gases
Portable gas meter
- Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell)
- Ventilation (30 minutes min.)
- Operators should be advised of procedures and
precautions

Electrical Safety
y
code awareness
Hygiene
yg
and exposure
p
to wastewater

Maintenance Activities
Safety
Minimum of two trained
employees for service
calls
p p
Access to a lift for pump
service that requires
pump removal

Source: doonwoodengineering
doonwoodengineering.com
com

What Have We Learned?

Dry Wells and Wet Wells

Grinder Pumps and Submersible Pumps
Common O&M Issues