It could make engineering much simpler if all water traveled at the same speed.

It’s not.

In a residential area, the amount of wastewater that goes into the system may vary through the day. Industrial and commercial facilities can be experiencing operating peaks. Stormwater levels can drastically change with weather conditions. The demand for clean water can also increase and falls based on use.

It is not enough to choose equipment that will achieve a specific flow rate when designing an equipment pumping station. Engineers need to be aware of the environment that the equipment will be exposed to.

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Think about operating conditions Think in Operating Conditions, Not just Maximum Capacity

It is evident that the highest flow is an important factor however, it’s just a part of the operation of a station. Imagine a wastewater system which is designed for large peak flow. In most cases the flow of incoming water can be much lower. During these normal operating times however, the station will be able to function properly.

This introduces questions about wet-well sizing, pump operation, head conditions, controls, and how the equipment performs to demand fluctuations.

A properly engineered package pumping system brings these considerations together around the actual requirements of the site instead of treating maximum pump capacity as the entire design objective.

The Wastewater Industry has its own daily Rhythm

The conditions that flow through the wastewater liftstation that serves households business, municipal infrastructure or even businesses could change in the course of the operation.

The station’s control strategies will determine how the system is able to collect wastewater and operate its pumps. The process involves the structural dimensions, pumping gear, valves and pipes, as well as electrical components.

Design may include other site-specific considerations. Romtec Utilities will incorporate any other systems like grinders vaults or odor-control equipment when needed. This results in a station that is engineered to fit the particular project, instead of being a standard design that is applied to all wastewater sites.

Stormwater is able to change significantly faster

Stormwater has a completely different kind of operating environment. A stormwater lift-station may have a low level of activity during dry conditions, and then encounter substantially greater inflow during an event of weather. The station may be part of a larger flood control treatment, detention or drainage strategy, making the stormwater strategy surrounding it an essential element of the system design.

Romtec Utilities evaluates factors including needed flow rates along with head conditions, size of the system, site requirements, and environmental considerations when developing these systems.

A station serving a commercial development may therefore look completely different from one that is designed for a municipal stormwater application.

Head Conditions Matter Along With Flow

Moving 1,000 gallons is only part of the engineering issue. Engineers also have to understand the direction of the water and the resistance that the pumping system has to overcome.

Pumps operate with different head sizes based on the design of the system, like the piping, discharge conditions, etc.

This connection between flow and head is yet another reason why selecting a pump solely based on its ratings isn’t enough. The technology of the pump and station’s configuration have to be adjusted to the hydraulic parameters for the whole application.

Design for the conditions the station will experience

Romtec Utilities develops customized pumping systems for stormwater, wastewater cleaner water boosters, industrial and other applications. The process may include the preliminary design and budgeting process plans, complete sets of plans as well as documentation as well as startup, testing and commissioning.

The premise behind the design is straightforward Pumping systems don’t have to work for the rest of their lives under one set of convenient conditions.

They encounter changes in flows, requirements, and project-specific hydro requirements. The station that is successful must be designed to meet the demands of the future.