The efficiency of a lift station is determined long before it becomes an concrete structure complete with valves, pumps and piping. The design of the final lift station is influenced by many factors such as the flow calculation, the elevations of the site, pressures in the system, wastewater characteristics, peak situations maintenance access, control systems, and future capacities.
The main question important for the project’s owners to ask when comparing the most reputable lift station designers is not who can create the pumps. Who can translate site conditions into a complete, practical system that is simple to install, maintain, and maintain?
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Gravity Limits Itself
Gravity is by far the most efficient method to transport wastewater. However conditions of the land and the patterns of development don’t always work in favor of this method. It’s possible that new residential, industrial or commercial locations are too large, far away or located in areas where gravity sewer extension is not possible.
A lift station supplies the force required to transport wastewater towards the next location in the system of collection. It is important to consider both the standard operating conditions and those that are less suitable, such as peak inflows, pump maintenance or equipment failure, or future demand increases.
The companies that are considered among the best wastewater designers should therefore evaluate the entire problem of conveyance rather than considering the station as a separate part of the equipment.
Existing Infrastructure Complicates the Puzzle
Construction isn’t always the only issue. Many municipalities must modernize or replace their old facilities in order to keep essential wastewater infrastructures in place.
Infrastructure in place, like wet wells, force mains, control systems, site boundaries, and downstream infrastructure, could limit the design. Engineers need to determine what elements are recyclable, what must be replaced and how new components will fit with the existing system.
Romtec Utilities has experience in commercial, private and municipal applications as also retrofit and replacement projects. This allows pumping systems be tailored to the ownership and operational requirements of each project.
Stormwater is controlled by different rules
The best stromwater system designers using the supplied search terminology must solve a different hydraulic problem. Stormwater systems can undergo dramatic changes in their volume according to rainfall, drainage area, capacity of detention, as well as allowable discharge rates.
Stations that are serving detention basins for instance, could need to temporarily store runoff before pumping it out in a controlled manner. Engineers should consider the head and flow conditions, environmental requirements and flood control objectives and the specifics of the drainage system used to receive it.
Prefabrication can move work away From the Jobsite
The difficulty of field assembly could lead to delays in scheduling, mistakes during installation, changes orders, and even delays. Romtec Utilities performs significant prefabrication of equipment prior to the construction location.
By completing more assembly and quality control work in a controlled setting, you can reduce the amount of work required in the ground. Based on the approach to project management explained by Romtec Utilities, certain projects which would otherwise require weeks to complete could be reduced to just a few days according to the circumstances of the project.
The process of commissioning is Key to Engineering Success
The installation of every component is not enough to make a system solid. Romtec Utilities provides installation advisors and follows construction with startup, control-panel checks, pump operation, system testing, and staff training. Documentation is also available to provide operators with information on how to keep the system running and consider future expansion.
For owners searching for the top lift station design, that last stage is worth a lot of attention. A good engineer should be able to produce more than an acceptable set of drawings. The station owner should leave with a system that works that is well-trained, a competent staff, helpful documentation and equipment specifically designed to handle the working conditions of the facility.