Create a box for a lift station on a plan of civil engineering and you can consider it as a self-contained piece of equipment.
The water actually comes from a source and then pumped to the station. The facility is also dependent on electricity, controls access to the site structural elements, as well as connections to infrastructure.
One thing that is beneficial to project teams who are trying for the most effective lift station designer is whether they look at the interfaces or only what happens inside the station.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Start Upstream of the Wet Well
Let us take a brand new residential development as an illustration. The wastewater flows through the collection system to the lift station. The elevation of the site and the incoming flow conditions determine the amount of waste the station is able to handle.
When wastewater is able to reach an un-dampened well then a new set of decisions in engineering is taken. Pumps, pipes, valves, controls, structural components and even auxiliary equipment have to suit the purpose.
Romtec Utilities engineers wastewater systems specifically for individual locations, which include industrial, commercial, municipal and development.
The specific approach for the project is vital since what happens downstream could alter the objectives of the pumping station.
Follow the water beyond the pumps
The issue doesn’t end once the liquid is out of the well. Pumping systems need to be capable of pushing the liquid to meet the hydraulic conditions of downstream systems. The pump configuration and flow requirements are determined by required head and flow conditions.
That connection is particularly important when evaluating the best wastewater designers. Pumps may boast impressive specs on its own however its performance must to make sense within the entire hydraulic system.
Romtec Utilities has the ability to design the structural elements that comprise mechanical components, electrical components, as well the communication systems for pumping stations as a complete package. This allows the equipment to be coordinated with the requirements established for the specific project.
Stormwater has its own network of connections
Stormwater is an intricate infrastructure puzzle. Runoff from developed surfaces may be able to enter an infrastructure for collection and then pass through detention, drainage, or flood management. The station functions as a bridge to the overall stormwater strategy when pumping is required.
It is vital for those looking for the most effective design of stromwater to look at the location’s conditions, rates of flow, head requirements, environmental aspects and the surrounding stormwater plans.
Romtec Utilities provides customized stormwater pumping system for residential and commercial projects.
Coordination Extends Above Ground Too
Some interfaces do not require pipe. The electrical service should be in place to support the equipment. Control and communications systems have to be designed to fit the needs of the project. Contractors should be able to access the appropriate plans and documentation. Installation, startup, and service may require physical access.
This is a difficult project with multiple participants and different disciplines, therefore a clear system document is essential. Romtec Utilities offers complete plans and project documents. It can also support the system from its initial setup through commissioning and testing.
Take a look beyond the station’s Boundary
If the external connections of a lift aren’t properly taken into consideration, a properly-designed lift station could still be an element of the project is not properly coordinated.
The water can be a great design guide. Where does it originate? What conditions must it meet in order to get there? What is it expected to do there? Where does it go afterward? What infrastructure is needed to allow the entire process to function?
If you answer these questions, you transform lifting station design from an exercise in equipment to an engineering project for infrastructure.