The wastewater lift station in municipal facilities is outdated. The pumps are nearing the expiration date of their useful life span, the controls require modernization as well as the access hatch has deteriorated. Although the concrete wetwell appears solid structurally, it requires to be modernized.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Do you think the station should be demolished and rebuilt? Not necessarily. It is important to inquire if the system that is in place will be able to support a modern system of pumping without compromising future capacity in terms of reliability, reliability, or accessibility.
Retrofitting pumps that are precisely designed can help save infrastructure, and can also help in replacing components no longer meeting operating requirements.
Start with the Structure That No One Wants to Replace
It’s costly and inconvenient to repair the wet well because it is buried in the ground, connected to pipes and essential for wastewater collection.
Retaining the concrete structure may reduce excavation work and construction.
However, deterioration around the access hatch could complicate the process. Romtec Utilities has identified wet-well hatch replacement as a crucial retrofit. Instead of affixing a fresh hatch to concrete that is deteriorating or replacing the entire top slab could be a better option. This will allow for greater access to the structure, and extend its lifespan, without needing to completely rebuild the wet well.
A new pump improves the design
Imagine a place that has exploded in size since the initial lift station installation. The current pumps may not be able with increased wastewater flows.
A change to the pumping station may be accompanied by higher horsepower pumps. However, equipment selection cannot happen independently of the surrounding system. To make the pumps more powerful you might need make adjustments to the discharge elbows or pipe. You may also need to upgrade electrical controls and valves.
Engineers must also think about the hydraulic requirements of the system. This includes flow and the total dynamic pressure. A larger pump without considering the circumstances could cause more problems than it solves. The planning of future capacity at the initial design process can simplify future expansion.
Ensure that the waste water is 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.
Contractors continue to work and the wastewater will continue to flow. Based on the nature of the project temporary bypass pumps might be required to keep services during removal and the installation of existing equipment.
Romtec Utilities faced this kind of challenge in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia.
The project required the replacement of two old wastewater lift stations, while maintaining the operation at the facility. Specific engineering for the site and packaged replacement systems and bypass pumping methods helped allow for the existing station footprints and operational needs. This illustrates how the order of construction should be carefully considered before installation.
If you decide to replace, it is the best Choice
Not all stations are suitable to be renovated. If the sewer lift station needs to be replaced due to a badly deteriorated well, structural limitations or major changes in the hydraulic requirements, it could be better to replace than alter.
The selection should consider structural condition, equipment compatibility accessibility to construction along with service continuity as well as long-term requirements for operation. Romtec Utilities begins retrofits and replacements by identifying components that will remain as well as the ones that require replacement.
The company will create custom-designed engineering plans including budget estimates, site-specific designs, and initial designs. Prefabricated components are also useful in arranging installation and decreasing some on-site requirements.
The Project isn’t Complete until the Pumps Begin to Run
Modernized lift stations should operate as an integrated system. Before returning a lift facility to normal service, startup tests, commissioning and verification of the equipment are essential to confirm that all pumps, controls and the related equipment function in accordance with the specifications.
Manuals for maintenance and operation, as well as instruction for operators are crucial. Maintenance workers must be aware of the new equipment, operating procedure, and other documentation before they take over responsibility for the station.
An effective retrofit will preserve the infrastructure that is still valuable as well as addressing the weaknesses that made modernization necessary.
Municipalities and facility owners must be aware of the need for more than just immediate repairs. The most effective project is one that integrates new equipment with existing structures, keeps up with essential services throughout construction, and prepares the pumping system to last for years of continued operation.