It’s not that hard for a pump station to cease working for it to become troublesome. The pump station might be able to handle the flow of water or wastewater daily but struggle when the demands are high, require more frequent maintenance or rely on controls that are challenging to maintain. The equipment functions, however its design may no longer reflect the conditions surrounding it.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
The importance of recognizing this difference is for the municipalities, developers and facility managers when planning improvements to infrastructure.
Look Beyond the Equipment That’s Failing
A wastewater lift station retrofit should begin with an assessment of the complete system, not simply the pump experiencing problems. Engineers should assess the wetwell as well as mechanical equipment as well as electrical components, controls, drainage piping and current requirements for pumping and control systems.
The state of a wet well is very important. If the structure of the well is in good shape, you may be able to replace it with a new equipment while keeping its existing structure. It is less costly to build a new station than if you kept the current one. It is essential to preserve the existing infrastructure, even if upgrades can be made.
Is the service area changing?
The wastewater facility that was constructed years ago can be used to provide services to increasing numbers of homes, businesses and industrial operations.
These changes can have an impact on flows and operational demands. The successful rehabilitation of a lift facility needs more than restoring original specifications for the equipment. Engineers should assess potential and current flows as well as the equipment’s capacity and dependability.
It’s not enough to simply buy a larger pump. New equipment must work with existing pipes wet well, electric supply and controls. If one component is improved it could cause problems with other components.
Retrofits to stormwater have different priorities
Retrofitting a stormwater pump station requires additional considerations as runoff patterns may be affected by rainfall as well as nearby development. The pattern of inflow at a station that serves the detention area could differ from one that is receiving water directly through the storm drain. The amount of runoff that gets to the station is affected by new pavement as well as increased parking or altered drainage infrastructure.
Before recommending the upgrade of an existing stormwater pump station engineers should review the drainage area of the pump station. They should also examine the expected peak flows storage capacity, discharge conditions.
The findings will help you decide if the station has to be rebuilt or if modernizing equipment is sufficient.
Plan Construction Before Interrupting Service
The operation of the station during rehabilitation is often ignored. It is impossible to shut down wastewater systems without making arrangements for the flow control.
Construction may include temporary bypass pumps or installation of new infrastructure along with an operating station, depending on the space available and the needs of the project.
It is important to think ahead about stormwater projects as the system could be required during rainstorms that are not expected. A comprehensive engineering plan thorough should include installation sequencing, temporary operations system integration, commissioning and equipment integration as well as replacement components.
The finished System is easier to Operate
Romtec Utilities provides site-specific engineering and supply solutions for wastewater and stormwater pumping needs.
The company’s retrofit strategy identifies which mechanical, structural electrical, and communication components will remain, and which ones require replacement. The company gives owners preliminaries designs and budget estimates to assist them in evaluating the options for their project.
Following installation, tests for startup testing, operator training and commissioning are important to ensure that the newly renovated station operates in accordance with its specifications. Rehabilitation projects that are successful should give operators a simple-to-maintain system.
Upgrade your system, not just the system that is old
An older pump station doesn’t mean it’s a perfect candidate to be completely replaced. It is possible that some structures will be operational for a long time, regardless of whether the mechanical or electrical systems require updating. It is crucial to decide what can be kept safely and economically, while still ensuring that the station’s finished product is compatible with future and current requirements.
Through analyzing the general working conditions and structural integrity in addition to the construction requirements and hydraulic constraints, owners can to make more informed choices.
The aim isn’t just to make a stale station function again. It’s about ensuring that the newly upgraded system can take on the new work.